1st to last: Ranking Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint has produced its fair share of upsets throughout the past decade. Bar of Gold captured the 2017 edition at 66-1 followed by Shamrock Rose at 25-1 the next year. Soul of An Angel got the job done as the second longest shot in last year’s 10-horse field at odds of 19-1. 

Knowing the history of this race may lead one to think outside the box for the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, but as Lee Corso would say, not so fast.

That is because there is a filly in this race who is quite fast, and her name is Kopion. Richard Mandella’s star filly will win this year’s Filly & Mare Sprint, but it should be a wide-open affair among the rest of the fillies and mares looking to round of the exotics. I analyze the projected field of 11, ranking them from first to last.

1. Kopion. The daughter of Omaha Beach is perfect in four starts at seven furlongs including back-to-back romping wins in the Santa Monica (G2) and the Derby City Distaff (G1) where she earned Beyer Speed Figures of 110 and 109, according to Daily Racing Form. Those efforts would put her in the winner’s circle at Del Mar, but those looking to defeat the likely favorite will point to losses in her last two efforts. Richard Mandella knows how to prepare his horses to peak at the right time. Following a gigantic effort at Churchill Downs, he did not have her fully cranked up in the Great Lady M (G2) at Los Alamitos. She did nothing wrong when chasing talented Sweet Azteca around the track without any pace assistance. She proved she was still in top form when flying home to run second to future Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Seismic Beauty in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1). That was by far the best route effort she has put forth to date. Now she returns to doing what she does best in a race filled with speed to flatter her late kick.

2. Sweet Azteca. If Kopion is as good as I believe she is, then the only horse to beat her sprinting must be awfully good as well. Richard Baltas’s rocket ship always has shown brilliance and looks primed to step up to the big stage. Though there is other speed to challenge her, she should be to fastest of the field and will take these as far as she can. She is 2-for-2 at Del Mar and will be hard to run down. She has yet to try seven furlongs, which gives Kopion the advantage. She should still be able to hold off the rest of the field.

3. Richi. This Bob Baffert-trained mare has been keeping top company all year and is interesting while cutting back in distance after a series of good route tries. I believe she is just as good sprinting as she is routing, and she has a nice style to put herself into the race without needing the lead. She has yet to finish out of the trifecta since coming to America, and that trend may continue in this spot.

4. Hope Road. In case you have not realized by now, this is a division California has dominated all year long. This filly, who was defeated three times by Kopion this year, shipped to New York and captured the Ballerina (G1) comfortably. She likes Del Mar and always shows up with an honest effort. Like her stablemate Richi, she has good tactical speed and will be fighting with the fellow Baffert trainee for a slice underneath.

5. Fee Blanche. Those looking for a price to spice up their trifecta or superfecta may want to give this Japan shipper a closer look. Since switching trainers Dec. 30, she has won all three of her starts at a mile or shorter, two of which came over a track with left-hand turns. Those three wins also came against males. It is hard to gauge if the horses she has been beating are any good, but it certainty is worth a shot to include this wild card underneath. 

6. Tamara. Mandella’s other entrant originally was the more heralded of his two runners. The beautifully bred daughter of Beholder looked like a star before disappointing in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and then disappearing for a year. She returned to run a decent second in an allowance but then was off for another year before coming back to win the Chillingworth (G3). That was a dreadful field she defeated, but it was positive to see her come back strongly and to see her entered again without a layoff. She has the talent to compete in this race, but her lack of seasoning may be too much to overcome.  

7. Praying. The Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) has been a productive prep for this race in prior years, but this year’s edition seemed weak. This daughter of Vekoma improved dramatically to capture the Prioress (G3) at 21-1 before defeating older runners in the TCA. She may be a filly to watch next year as a 4-year-old, but she is nothing more than a fringe player against this group.

8. Splendora. Baffert’s third entrant is a useful filly but always has seemed a notch below her stablemates. She was defeated by Baffert’s Seismic Beauty, Hope Road and Richi this year and won her two starts when she was the main attraction at short prices. She seems to be at her best when she can make the lead, which will be hard to come by with Sweet Azteca, Haulin Ice and others in this race. 

9. Vahva. She was only 3-1 in this race last year and came up flat, defeating one runner. Her form has not been nearly as good this year as it look like the 5-year-old mare has lost a step. She had every chance to get by Praying last time out in the TCA Stakes but hung and had to settle for second.

10. Zeitlos. This mare also was disappointing in last year’s Breeders’ Cup where she ran seventh, and she has only one win on her form this year. She was a flat third behind Praying and Vahva last out, and even if she turns the table on those two rivals, it will not be enough.

11. Haulin Ice. The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee is not the worst horse in this race but may be a good bet to finish last. She is in good form, beating up on cupcakes at Gulfstream Park, but her best races have come when she makes the lead. With Sweet Azteca in the field, she will not make the lead and may back up while chasing quick fractions.

Also of note, Majestic Oops is pre-entered but has first preference in the Distaff. Kopion and Tamara are cross-entered in the Sprint but have first preference in this race.