Speech gets the nod in Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint

A stellar field of nine, with five being Grade 1 winners, will contest the highly competitive $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland on Saturday. The 7-furlong dash features some of the fleetest horses in training, and the pace of the affair will be rapid. I am siding with a runner to rally from off the early tempo for the win.

Filly and Mare Sprint Wagers

• $30 Win and Place: #1 Speech ($60)
• $4 Exacta: 1 with 3,5,8,9 ($16)

Filly and Mare Sprint Analysis

#2 Gamine, #6 Venetian Harbor, and #7 Serengeti Empress will all be sent from the break while establishing blistering early fractions. I think that there is a very good chance that each of these fillies will duel each other into submission and set things up for a horse coming from off the pace.

Filly and Mare Sprint Contenders

#1 SPEECH (6-1) -- Ashland (G1) queen makes her first appearance since a poor break hurt her chances when finishing fourth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). McCarthy trainee has been a consistently excellent performer this season, and she comes in fresh while cutting back in trip off the bench. I envision the Mr Speaker filly sitting a dream voyage from slightly behind the pace, and getting first run on the deep closers while saving ground throughout. Castellano rides the top pick.

#2 GAMINE (7-5) -- Test (G1) and Acorn (G1) romper is a superb sophomore who was third in the recent Kentucky Oaks for Baffert. Fleet Into Mischief filly is the one to beat on her best day, and she is training in excellent fashion in preparation of her toughest test to date, but I fear that she may get compromised being inside of two very fast runners on Saturday. The Kentucky-bred remains an obvious win contender, nonetheless, with Velazquez in the saddle.

#3 COME DANCING (8-1) -- Classy mare is rounding back into her best form for Martin in anticipation of the final race of her career. Malibu Moon 6-year-old was victorious in the Honorable Miss (G2) most recently, and she might sit a nice trip near midpack behind a pace duel to the top of the lane. A bullet three-eighths move on the surface on Sunday hints that she may be ready for a big performance.

#4 INTHEMIDSTOFBIZ (30-1) -- Outsider was a facile winner in her second Keeneland outing last time out and has never been better for Contreras. Fed Biz filly faces a huge class test on Saturday, however, and she would be a surprise in such a stellar field.

#5 SCONSIN (20-1) -- Interesting longshot contender went last-to-first in a going-away tally in the Eight Belles (G1) at Churchill Downs for Foley. One-run closer was a solid second in the Beaumont (G2) on this course in the summer, and she rates as an exotics contender at a price with any kind of improvement off the short layoff. James Graham will ride.

#6 VENETIAN HARBOR (8-1) -- Talented Munnings filly comes in off of a wire-to-wire tally in the Raven Run (G2) for Baltas. $110,000 yearling purchase has been first or second in each of her seven lifetime tries to date, but her running style is not ideal for the foes she will be competing against in the Filly and Mare Sprint. Kentucky-bred may have to rate early under Manny Franco.

#7 SERENGETI EMPRESS (3-1) -- $2 million earner has impressed on numerous occasions this campaign for Amoss, even in defeat. Alternation filly is as swift as they come from the gate, and she also has a lot of heart as she has displayed in her last two assignments. Being drawn outside of the other pair of speedsters may prove advantageous.

#8 SALLY’S CURLIN (20-1) -- Deep closing type came from the proverbial clouds to register a third-place result in the Derby City Distaff (G1) most recently for Romans. Multiple Grade 3 queen has earned some stout Brisnet Late Pace figures this campaign, and her inclusion in the vertical exotics makes sense in a field loaded with early gas.

#9 BELL’S THE ONE (6-1) -- Recent Grade 1 heroine brings career form to the field from the outside post for Pessin. Majesticperfection 4-year-old is a two-time winner on the Keeneland surface, led by a tally in the 2019 Raven Run (G2), and she shows a fine half-mile move in her latest morning drill, as well. Regular pilot Lanerie will be in the stirrups.

Check out the odds for all Breeders' Cup entries here