Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Picks: European invader to beat home horses

Race 5 on the Saturday Card at Del Mar in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. This is often a race where a winner can come from anywhere and the betting is wide open.

Our US Racing correspondent Paul Quigley is taking a European invader to beat the home horses to take home the title for the third time in six years...

This looks every bit of 4/1 the field race. The visitors have won this race twice in the last five years but the home have chances too. The ageless Motorious (1) and Ag Bulle (8) filled the places in this race last year. The first named has been kept fresh for this. His neck loss last year was his only defeat on this turf track. Ag Bulle (8) has won her last two starts since her comeback.  

The best of the away team maybe Arizona Blaze (3). He lost by a neck in The Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Besides The Nunthorpe, he's ran well in all his starts this year. He holds stablemate Bucanero Fuerte (11) off a run at The Curragh in September.

It is worth bearing in mind how well he ran over course and distance at last year's Breeders' Cup. Old boy Khaadem (4) outfinished a stakes field at Keeneland last month. He could be rolling late. That is also the case with Reef Runner (2). He has been first past the post in his last three races including one over course and distance.      

Shisospicy (10) will be a factor from the outset. She bounced back from a heavy loss in The Commonwealth Cup with a clear-cut victory in a Grade 2 at Kentucky Downs. Irad Ortiz may elect to stalk at close hand the pacesetters.

She's one for an already long shortlist here. Bring Theband Home (5) has only one way to run. The frontrunner won well in two stakes at Saratoga in the summer. If it wasn't for a poor run on his comeback, he'd be half the price he is.       

Note: This is a Betfred Extra Place Race where we are paying out four places rather than three on each-way bets.

*You can bet on and check out the latest Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Odds over on betfred.com 

Paul Quigley is a long-time US racing fan and tipster. He provides US Horse Racing Tips for Betfred Insights as well as working for Betfred TV...