Straight No Chaser aims for second Sprint Championship

Straight No Chaser's late-season sweep of the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) and Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) propelled him to a division title in 2024. It's a feat the six-year-old will attempt to replicate, beginning with Sunday's $200,000 Sprint Championship over six furlongs.

Unlike his exclusively domestic championship campaign last term, Straight No Chaser has seen action this year only in the Middle East, and not at all since early April. After an authoritative romp in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) in late February, Straight No Chaser turned in a highly dull performance in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), finishing nine lengths adrift in eighth.

Seven others have been entered in the Sprint Championship, most notably last-out Pat O'Brien (G2) winner Dr. Venkman. However, both of his graded wins have been over seven furlongs or farther.

Grade 1 veteran Speed Boat Beach, a close second in the Sprint Championship two years ago, has not yet found his best form in two starts since returning from an extended layoff in May. His fellow Bob Baffert trainee, Grade 2 winner Imagination, returns from a lengthy spell dating to late January.

There will be fewer doubts regarding Baffert contenders in the $200,000 Zenyatta (G2). Cavalieri and Richi, one-two in the March 8 Beholder Mile (G1), figure to dominate both the betting and the 1 1/16-mile test for fillies and mares.

While the unbeaten Cavalieri has not raced since the Beholder Mile, Richi subsequently captured the Santa Maria (G2) before finishing a modest third in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1). The field of five also includes Sugar Fish, who has placed only once in three starts since winning the 2024 Zenyatta.

Both the Santa Anita Sprint Championship and Zenyatta are Breeders' Cup Challenge series races, awarding their winners respective berths into the Breeders' Cup Sprint and Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar.