BC Diary Sprint

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.