Cy Fair Tops Males in Winning BC Juvenile Turf Sprint

Multiple Eclipse Award-winning rider Irad Ortiz Jr. knows how to play a good hand when it's dealt. Ortiz expected to rate Cy Fair just a bit in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) Oct. 31 at Del Mar but when the daughter of Not This Time broke well in the 5-furlong test, Ortiz put her in a stalking position between horses early and then just behind front-running Schwarzenegger in the turn. Cy Fair then put Schwarzenegger away near the eighth pole and was not seriously threatened the rest of the way in scoring by three-quarters of a length in her first graded stakes start. In just its eighth year, the Juvenile Turf Sprint has been a welcome addition to the Breeders' Cup for Ortiz, who has won half of those races. At the other end of that spectrum, Friday's race that kicked off five Breeders' Cup races for juveniles provided trainer George Weaver his first victory in the World Championships. "We've come a couple of times, and they're really tough races to win," said Weaver, who previously had earned placings in last year's Juvenile Turf Sprint with Governor Sam and in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) with Summer of Fun. "You've got to bring the right horse. You've got to have some luck. It's an exciting thing for me, our team, my family, and (wife) Cindy. It's why we do what we do." Racing for Swinbank Stables, Medallion Racing, Joey Platts, and Mark Stanton, Cy Fair completed the 5 furlongs in :56.02 on firm turf. Co-owner Reagan Swinbank noted that Cy Fair refers to the Cypress Fairbanks area of Houston where his mom's family is from and his mother went to high school. Swinbank said everything felt right Friday in the Del Mar sunshine as his mother was wearing a Cy-Fair High School ring that had belonged to her mother (Helen). Swinbank's aunt and uncle also made the trip. "Honestly it felt pretty good all day," Swinbank said. "All it takes is a world-class horse, a world-class horse trainer, and a world-class jockey, and a great trip. It all came together." Cy Fair was followed home by a pair of European-based colts in Brussels (GB), who overcame a slow start to secure the placing; and Aspect Island (GB) in third. Campaigned by the Coolmore-affiliated owners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg, Brussels previously finished second in this year's Middle Park Stakes (G1). Aspect Island, a runner for The Gredley Family, earned his second group/graded stakes placing. Aidan O'Brien is the trainer of Brussels and he also sent out the 3-1 race favorite, group 1 winning-filly True Love (IRE), but the leggy daughter of No Nay Never raced wide and never responded when asked by jockey Wayne Lordan. As for Cy Fair, Weaver didn't have a specific target in mind. He said she could stretch out to two turns next year. Bred in Kentucky by Marc Keller, Cy Fair is the first foal to race out of the winning Arch mare Remarqued. Remarqued is a half sister to Crimson Advocate, who at 2 Weaver saddled to a victory in the 2023 Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. Swinbank Stables landed Cy Fair for $185,000 from the Niall Brennan Stables consignment at this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Swinbank noted Friday that they of course liked Not This Time as the sire as well as the family ties to Crimson Advocate. The victory adds another milestone for sire Not This Time, as Cy Fair is his first Breeders' Cup winner and third grade 1 winner this season, joining Rhetorical and Troubleshooting. In 2026 Not This Time will stand for $250,000 at Taylor Made Stallions near Nicholasville, Ky.