In posting clear victories in his three starts of 2024—all grade 1 or grade 2 stakes—Cogburn has established himself as the country's top turf sprinter.
With a victory over international competition in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) Nov. 2 at Del Mar, the 5-year-old son of Not This Time would put himself into consideration for an Eclipse Award in the sprint and/or turf divisions.
Cogburn has taken full advantage since trainer Steve Asmussen and his connections in May 2023 moved him from the dirt, where he enjoyed some level of success, to the turf, where his racing career has skyrocketed. In seven starts on the green Cogburn has registered six wins and his undefeated 2024 season includes a 2 1/4-length score in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs, a 3 1/2-length victory in the Jaipur Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course—in the process setting a North American record of :59.80 for 5 1/2 furlongs, and a 3 1/4-length win in the Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) at Kentucky Downs.
In just those three starts on the lucrative Kentucky and New York circuits, Cogburn has earned $1,772,000 for owners William and Corinne Heiligbrodt and Clark Brewster. The latter two victories came in Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In events, ensuring a fees-paid start Nov. 2.
Depending on the host track, the distance of the Turf Sprint is adjusted. This year Del Mar will serve up a five-furlong edition of the test for which a full field of 12, plus three also-eligibles, have been entered. While Cogburn has not raced at that distance this year, he registered a pair of stakes wins going five furlongs on the Lone Star Park turf last year.
Motorious will enter the Turf Sprint off a decisive victory at that distance on the Del Mar course as he captured the Green Flash Handicap (G3T) Aug. 31. While the 6-year-old Muhaarar gelding trained by Phil D'Amato snapped a three-race losing streak with that win, a Breeders' Cup Challenge race, he certainly is comfortable on the course as he also won the 2023 Green Flash.
After last year's Green Flash, Motorious finished fifth as the favorite in the Turf Sprint contested at five furlongs at Santa Anita Park. This year he'll take another crack at the Turf Sprint, but this time it will be on a course where he has three wins in as many starts.
Big Evs and Bradsell are a pair of intriguing European invaders. RP Racing's Big Evs returns to the United States after posting a half-length victory in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) going five furlongs at Santa Anita. This year the 3-year-old son of two-time King's Stand Stakes (G1) winner Blue Point has added a victory in the King George Stakes (G2) at Goodwood.
Victorious Racing's Bradsell captured last year's King's Stand and this year the 4-year-old Tasleet colt has added victories in the Nunthorpe (G1) and Flying Five (G1) stakes (both are Breeders' Cup Challenge races).
Del Mar, Saturday, November 2, 2024, Race 5Entries: Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Believing (IRE) Ryan L. Moore 123 George Boughey 12/1 2 2Motorious (GB) Antonio Fresu 126 Philip D'Amato 8/1 3 3Arzak (KY) Joel Rosario 126 Michael J. Trombetta 30/1 4 4Starlust (GB) Rossa Ryan 124 Ralph Beckett 30/1 5 5Ag Bullet (KY) Umberto Rispoli 123 Richard Baltas 10/1 6 6Star of Mystery (GB) William Buick 121 Charles Appleby 10/1 7 7Howard Wolowitz (KY) Flavien Prat 124 Jose Francisco D'Angelo 30/1 8 8Big Invasion (KY) Lanfranco Dettori 126 Christophe Clement 20/1 9 9Cogburn (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 126 Steven M. Asmussen 7/5 10 10Isivunguvungu (SAF) Manuel Franco 126 H. Graham Motion 20/1 11 11Big Evs (IRE) Tom Marquand 124 Michael Appleby 12/1 12 12Bradsell (GB) Hollie Doyle 126 Archie Watson 7/2 13 13Nothing Better (KY) Paco Lopez 126 Jorge Duarte, Jr. 30/1 14 14Charcoal (KY) Axel Concepcion 126 Tracey J. Wisner 30/1 15 15Frost At Dawn (KY) Billy Loughnane 121 William Knight 30/1
