Golden Pal lukewarm choice

An overflow cast of characters pre-entered for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 6 at Del Mar includes defending race winner Glass Slippers, 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint victor Golden Pal; and the winners of such major international events as the Sprint Cup at Haydock, Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp, and Al Quoz at Meydan.

The Breeders’ Cup announced on Wednesday there were 19 pre-entries for the Turf Sprint, in which 12 may start. Casa Creed, guaranteed a spot in this field by virtue of his victory in the Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes in June at Belmont is the only candidate cross-entered, with his connections indicating first preference in the BC Mile. Final entries for all the Breeders’ Cup races are due next Monday, at which point a horse may only be entered in one race. The horses currently on the also-eligible list for the Turf Sprint, in the preference order in which they would move into the field via defection of Casa Creed or others, are Caravel, Bombard, The Critical Way, Chaos Theory, Beer Can Man, Commander, and Hollywood Talent.

Glass Slippers last year became the first Europeanbased runner to win the Turf Sprint, and this year seeks to become the third horse to win multiple editions of the race, joining Mizdirection (2012, 2013) and Stormy Liberal (2017, 2018). Glass Slippers is winless this season, but is not that far off the form she displayed prior to the 2020 Breeders’ Cup, as she has finished third in three prestigious European turf sprints that she utilized as preps last season. The mare’s trainer, Kevin Ryan, has also pre-entered Group 1 winner Emaraaty Ana, who he has long been bullish on bringing to America. Rounding out the European contingent is Ado McGuinness’s A Case of You, winner of the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye earlier this month.

Golden Pal will be the first winner of the Juvenile Turf Sprint, the newest Breeders’ Cup race, to run back in another Breeders’ Cup event. The colt is the 9-2 favorite on Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free’s early morning line. Trainer Wesley Ward, known for his work in this division but yet to saddle a winner of the Turf Sprint, has two other pre-entries in the main body of this field – Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational winner Arrest Me Red and Kimari. The latter won the Grade 1 Madison on dirt in April at Keeneland in her most recent outing, but is a Group 1-placed multiple stakes winner on turf.

Lieutenant Dan heads up the home team, having been supplemented to the Breeders’ Cup by breeder Nick Alexander off three wins this year, including the Grade 3 Green Flash at Del Mar and Grade 2 Eddie D at Santa Anita.

In addition to the aforementioned runners, the others in the main body of this field are Charmaine’s Mia, Al Quoz winner Extravagant Kid, Fast Boat, and Gear Jockey, the second choice on Free’s line.