BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT DIARY
OCTOBER 25, 2005
by Jordan Strickler
Just when a full field had been assembled, horses began to back out again in
this injury-riddled division. The Sprint
(G1) recently lost
Haskell Invitational H. (G1) winner Roman Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus) to a hoof
injury, and Grade 1 hero High Fly (Atticus) will miss the race due to a
non-displaced condylar fracture of his front right leg. Multiple Grade 2 winner Woke Up Dreamin (Holy
Bull) returned to training but could not make it back in time for the Breeders’
Cup.
The likely favorite and most promising sprint runner in the country is the undefeated LOST IN THE FOG
(Lost Soldier). The Greg Gilchrist-trained three-year-old comes off a 7
1/4-length defeat over mediocre rivals in the Bay Meadows Speed H. on October 1,
but he’s earned a BRIS Speed figure under 106 only once in his career, that
coming in his debut when he received a 98. Belmont has been favoring speed at
six furlongs so far this meet, a detail which does not hurt the bay with the
offset blaze at all. BATTLE WON (Honor and Glory), POMEROY (Boundary) and LIFESTYLE (Indian
Charlie) could all challenge him early, but Lost in the Fog should make quick work of these and produce a good
showing.
If Lost in the Fog has an off day or gets caught up in a lethal speed duel,
look for SILVER TRAIN (Old Trieste) to be right there to steal the victory. The
dominant Jerome H. (G2) winner has been working bullets for conditioner Richard
Dutrow and owns two victories in four starts at Belmont. He’s acclimated to the
six-furlong distance, having hit the board in all five attempts, and could pay at
high odds.
Another horse I believe is capable of an upset is Phoenix Breeders’ Cup H. (G3)
hero ELUSIVE JAZZ (Elusive Quality). The Bobby Barnett-trained four-year-old has
been working very nicely over sloppy going at Churchill Downs, and given New
York’s random and arc-like weather of late, this familiarization with the mud
could be what the chestnut needs to pull off the surprise, despite his lack of
experience versus quality opponents.