Speightstown, winner of the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) during his championship season, will have a pair of starters in this year’s Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, with Barbados in the Sprint (G1) and Recepta in the Mile (G1).
The $1.5 million Sprint has a full field of 14, with one also-eligible. Barbados drew post 11 and will be ridden by Luis Saez, who guided the 3-year-old colt to victories in the Spectacular Bid S. and Hutcheson S. (G3) this year at Gulfstream Park. Barbados ran arguably the best race of his career Oct. 2 at Keeneland in the Phoenix S. (G3), when he finished second to probably Sprint favorite Runhappy.
Recepta is one of four females in the $2 million Mile’s 12-horse field. The 4-year-old comes into the race off two wins in stakes, both at a mile, including the Noble Damsel S. (G3) at Belmont Park. She is owned by Pam Gartin and the Phillips Racing Partnership, who bought her for $410,000 out of the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling sale.
Recepta, who drew post 2, will be ridden by John Velazquez.
Both the Sprint and Mile are part of Saturday s’ card, with the Sprint as race 7 at 2:50 p.m. ET and the Mile as race 8 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
