Breeders' Cup Sprint 2017 goes to Roy H
Roy H, who spent his three and four-year-old seasons racing in mid-level allowances, turned into a multiple Grade 1 winner and Breeders’ Cup champion this year following his victory in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Sent off at 9-2 in the wagering, Roy H, who was victorious in the G1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship last month, stalked in third as the first quarter, set by Takaful, went in :21 4/5.
Imperial Hint took over the lead as the field approached the stretch and kicked on, but Roy H closed in under jockey Kent Desormeaux and took command with a sixteenth of a mile left and edged clear late to register a one-length victory. Mind Your Biscuits trailed the field after breaking a bit slow, came with his patented closing run, but had too much to do and had to settle for third. American Pastime rounded out the $1 superfecta that paid $1,095.40. The winner returned $11.80 to his supporters.
Defending champion Drefong, the 7-5 favorite trained by Bob Baffert, faded to sixth in the 10-horse field.
The 6-furlong win in the $1.5 million Sprint made it a memorable afternoon for his trainer Peter Miller and owner Rockingham Ranch. Earlier on the card, the connections won the Turf Sprint with Stormy Liberal. Miller’s other horse in the Turf Sprint, Richard’s Boy, was runner-up.
Desormeaux explained his ride aboard the Sprint winner, “There was a lot of jockeying for position on my part. Finally, I established a three-wide catbird seat. And Roy is so talented. I asked a lot of him in the first 200 yards. After that, he carried me."
An obviously elated Miller stated, “I’m so happy for the connections and everyone. My help did a phenomenal job with this horse, and Kent rode a great race. I’m just over the moon.”
Roy H has now won 5 out of 6 this year and his overall record stands at 17-6-4-1.