Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Storylines
Looking for a good story? Then, look no further than the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. This year’s race is packed with some good narratives, but only one will have a fairy tale ending. Here are a few of the storylines guaranteed to make this race a blockbuster event!
1. The Feel Good Underdog
With the supporting cast of a young trainer and young jockey, how many people had Fioretti picked to win the Thoroughbred Club of America last week? Her win, at odds of 17-to-1, was a first for the entire team. Trainer Anthony J. Hamilton Jr. and jockey Sophie Doyle both notched their first graded stakes win. I could stop right here and the story would have plenty to feel good about, but it doesn’t stop there.
Fioretti may have had some help from above last week. Hamilton’s father, longtime trainer and owner Joe Hamilton, passed away suddenly in January. A few months later, Fioretti would ease some of the grief by giving the team its’ first stakes win in the Roxelana at Churchill. Joe Hamilton never owned or trained a stakes winner, so it is certainly something special to see his son achieve that feat so early in his career. Just imagine the celebration if this team can score another victory in three weeks!
2. The Elusive Victory
For more than two decades, trainer Mark A. Hennig has been one of the best in the country. However, he is still searching for that first taste of victory in the Breeders’ Cup. He is currently 0-for-12 in Breeders’ Cup events with a career best finish of sixth (2000-Raging Fever). With almost 1300 wins, including too many graded stakes races to even count, his barn has been home to stars like Eddington, Star of Cozzene and Mystic Lady. Can Merry Meadow finally be the one to give Hennig a victory on one of racing’s biggest stages? She punched her ticket to the race earlier this year at Gulfstream and looks to bounce back after a rocky summer. Who knows, maybe the number thirteen will prove to be lucky this Halloween!
3. The Rematch
Stonetastic and Leigh Court have revenge on their mind this year. Their target is Judy the Beauty, who romped past them both in the stretch to win this race a year ago. Stonetastic set a blistering pace but could not hang on late, while Leigh Court ran a little wide throughout. These leading ladies are the only returners to year’s race, but they all have question marks heading into the race. Combined, they only have one win since last year’s race, a victory by Stonetastic in an Allowance Optional Claimer. These ladies will need to step up their game if they are going to be able to compete against the influx of newcomers.
4. The Quest for Perfection
La Verdad has looked unstoppable all year. She is 5-for-5 and looks to complete a perfect season with a win in the Breeders’ Cup F&M Sprint. She has dominated in all of her races, leading at just about every pole. Along the way, she defeated the reigning champ of the division, Judy the Beauty, gladiator-style. The Breeders’ Cup is infamous for breaking streaks, so the challenge will be a big one. With a win in the Breeders’ Cup, La Verdad would join an elite class of female sprinters and complete one of the best campaigns in recent years.