On a dark and rainy morning Oct. 15 at Keeneland, trainer Jose D'Angelo watched as his champion female sprinter Shisospicy disappeared into a dense fog as she entered the clubhouse turn alongside a workmate and a pony.
In many ways, that disappearance was symbolic of a 2026 season that vanished.
Hopes were high for Morplay Racing's speedy filly after she capped a remarkable campaign in 2025 by becoming the first 3-year-old filly to win the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T)—defeating elders and males in her first start against them. The 2026 season was supposed to build upon that success and carry her to new heights. It was not to be.
The daughter of Mitole was hit by a series of misfortunes. In January, an infection from a spider bite knocked her out of training long enough to ruin plans for competition in lucrative races in Saudi Arabia and Dubai. When she finally made it to the races for the May 1 Unbridled Sidney Stakes (G2T), she ran last and emerged with an illness that sent her for time off at the farm. Finally, when D'Angelo had her ready to return in the Sept. 19 Floral Park Stakes at Belmont Park, she spiked a fever and was not entered.
That has left Shisospicy with only one start this year and no final prep race ahead of her title defense attempt in this year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.
But perhaps her Thursday morning track visit also carried symbolism for what is to come as, not too long after disappearing into the fog, she emerged from it. At the top of the stretch, she flashed her distinctive speed while leaving her workmate well in her wake, posting a bullet 5 furlongs in :59 2/5 over a good dirt track that was taking more and more rain. The workmate she was sent off with, Smell of Money, was clocked in 1:01 3/5.
Can she emerge from the fog of a missed season to become a dual Breeders' Cup winner?
The final answer to that question will come Oct. 31 but, at this point, D'Angelo is happy with the way things are going.
"This morning she showed her speed again. She's fast," D'Angelo said. "Going into this kind of race without a previous race is not easy, so we have to make sure that we are ready. I'm very happy with everything I see."
D'Angelo knows the task ahead of him is not easy, and the feeling is much different compared to a year ago when he entered the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar fully confident he would walk out with two trophies: Shisospicy in the Turf Sprint and Bentornato in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). That confidence proved to be correct.
"Last year, I was very sure when I had both horses for Breeders' Cup, I was very confident in the preparation," D'Angelo said. "Everything was perfect, I was very sure we were going to win. This year is different because we are coming in off a rough year for her. I really wanted one race before. I think that is the key for these kind of races. But, God has plans, and she's good now. We go from there, and she's ready."
That lack of a prep had D'Angelo switching things up with his star filly, giving her a workmate for what he believes was only the first or second time she's ever had one since joining his barn as a 2-year-old. He pulled a similar move with Bentornato last fall at Keeneland when he was entering the Breeders' Cup off of just one start after his own series of setbacks cost him the first eight months of the year.
"It's an unusual preparation for a race because we are prepping her for Breeders' Cup without a race, she hasn't run since May," D'Angelo said of giving Shisospicy a workmate. "I just need to squeeze her a little bit. When you run, you run against 12 horses. When you breeze, you breeze against yourself or one teammate. I was trying to get her properly ready for the challenge she's going to have."
Shisospicy detached from that rival with ease coming off the far turn, and the move mirrored almost exactly the work Bentornato had with a workmate last October. D'Angelo said he learned a lot from getting Bentornato prepped for a Breeders' Cup win off one start and that has helped him prepare Shisospicy this year.
Also a change for Shisospicy was the rider. With Irad Ortiz Jr. aiming to win the Turf Sprint on a 3-year-old filly two years in a row with Cy Fair, Luis Saez is scheduled to take the mount. He was aboard for the first time Thursday morning.
"Luis is very good from the gate and on the lead," D'Angelo said. "I think they match perfect and Luis was very happy with the workout, he liked the breeze. We're ready."
As Shisospicy prepares to defend her title in the Breeders' Cup, Bentornato is preparing to return to training by the end of the year. The Valiant Minister ridgling was sidelined in the summer after undergoing surgery to repair a small sesamoid fracture. D'Angelo said everything looked good when he went to visit him in September and that a checkup from veterinarians earlier this week has him hopeful that Bentornato will rejoin the stable in about a month.
