Straight No Chaser Seeks BC Sprint Repeat

Straight No Chaser will seek to become the fourth horse to win back-to-back editions of the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). It is a tough job, accomplished previously only by Midnight Lute in 2007-08, Roy H in 2017-18, and Elite Power in 2022-23. Last year, Straight No Chaser, trained by Dan Blacker, won the 6-furlong Sprint after capturing the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G2), also at 6 furlongs. The now 6-year-old son of Speightster used that same race this year as his prep, but he ran third to Imagination and Dr. Venkman, both of whom he is scheduled to face again in the Breeders' Cup. Straight No Chaser has started three times since last year's Breeders' Cup. He won the Feb. 22 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) in Saudi Arabia, for which he earned a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In berth to the Sprint, and ran eighth in the April 5 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) in Dubai. Straight No Chaser didn't start again until the Sept. 28 Sprint Championship. MyRacehorse, the popular microshare ownership group, owns Straight No Chaser. "We couldn't be happier to be back and have the chance to defend our title," said Michael Behrens, founder and CEO of MyRacehorse. "Straight No Chaser is coming into the race in fantastic shape. He took a bit to recover from the international travel he did earlier in the year, but gained a ton of fitness out of his effort in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship and is training like he is ready to put forth another big effort. His story has been the kind every owner dreams of." Bentornato may also prove popular in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. The Jose D'Angelo trainee as a 3-year-old finished second to Straight No Chaser by a half-length in the 2024 edition after winning the Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) at Parx Racing. Bentornato, a son of Valiant Minister, received an even longer break than Straight No Chaser after the Breeders' Cup, not running again until the Sept. 13 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at Churchill Downs. It was an impressive performance, as he scored by 5 1/4 lengths. Bob Baffert, who trained Midnight Lute, conditions 4-year-old Imagination, one of the many successful runners Baffert has had by Into Mischief. Winner of the 2024 San Felipe Stakes (G2), Imagination finished second by just a neck in that year's Santa Anita Derby (G1). Imagination took the Santa Anita Sprint Championship, a "win and you're in" race for the Sprint, by 1 3/4 lengths after an eight-month layoff. Baffert was able to win a second Breeders' Cup Sprint with Midnight Lute after the horse started only once that year. The trainer has won the Sprint five times, including with Thirty Slews, who in 1992 became the first of Baffert's 19 successes in Breeders' Cup races. Dr. Venkman, a 5-year-old gelded son of Ghostzapper, ran second in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship after winning the 7-furlong Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar. The latter gave Dr. Venkman a "win and you're in" berth to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), but trainer Mark Glatt has opted for the Sprint. Though Dr. Venkman successfully negotiated 1 1/16 miles in the 2024 San Diego Handicap (G2), he has made nine of his 11 lifetime starts at 6-7 furlongs. Lovesick Blues earned his way into the Breeders' Cup Sprint via the 6-furlong Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, which comes with a Challenge Series berth. He is the oldest horse in the field, being a 7-year-old son of Grazen, and he has by far the most experience, with 42 starts. Librado Barocio, who trains Lovesick Blues and owns him in the name of Mia Familia Racing Stable, didn't even acquire the gelding until mid-2024. He bought Lovesick Blues privately from breeder Nick Alexander after doing well with another son of Grazen, Johnny Podres. "Grazen throws horses with iron constitutions—his horses are good," Barocio said. "I appreciate Nick for allowing me to have the horse." Lovesick Blues also won the May 10 Siren Lure Stakes at 6 furlongs over the Santa Anita Park turf course. He prepped for the Sprint on Santa Anita's downhill turf course in the Oct. 11 California Flag Handicap for California-breds and California-sired horses, running second by just a nose. Nakatomi and Patriot Spirit also earned Breeders' Cup Challenge Series berths to the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Trained by Wesley Ward, Nakatomi won his by capturing the 6-furlong Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Oct. 3. This will be the 6-year-old gelding's third appearance in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. He finished third in 2023 behind winner Elite Power and sixth in 2024. Patriot Spirit, a 4-year-old colt trained by Michael Campbell, earned a "win and you're in" spot via the 7-furlong Vosburgh Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack. He also won the 7-furlong Reigh Count Stakes at Colonial Downs July 26. The Breeders' Cup Sprint will also have a female in competition: Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) winner Kopion. Her Hall of Fame trainer, Richard Mandella, placed her in the Sprint, a move that puts her in a separate race from stablemate Tamara. The latter will race for Spendthrift Farm and Mandella in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1).