Shisospicy can’t be caught. (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Classic Saturday: Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1)
Breeders’ Cup Release
UPDATED 11/1/2025 4:48 PM ET
DEL MAR, Calif. –Morplay Racing and Qatar Racing’s Shisospicy ($12.60) went to the front out of the gate and held the advantage all the way around to post a 2 ½-length victory over Ag Bullet to win the 19th running of the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.
Trained by Jose D’Angelo and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Shisospicy covered the 5 furlongs on a firm turf course in :55.24. It is the first victory in the World Championships for D’Angelo and the 22nd for Ortiz and second in this race.
Shisospicy was challenged early by Invincible Papa (AUS) with Ag Bullet tracking a close third through an opening quarter-mile in :21.75. She maintained a daylight advantage on the field through the turn and opened up in the stretch and was not challenged in the run to the finish.
The victory was worth $520,000 and improved Shisospicy’s earnings to $2,090,270 with a record of 9-6-1-1 that now includes three graded-stakes victories.
Shisospicy is a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Mitole out of the Into Mischief mare Mischief Galore.
https://youtu.be/0FXxRbMvpmo?si=hftuWkJza2X_9gbF
Quotes:
It’s a flower shower for Irad Ortiz and Shisospicy. (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Winning trainer Jose Francisco D’Angelo (Shisospicy) – “I knew that she was going to explode today with her speed, and it worked out perfectly. With her speed, I just trained her for the race.”
Winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Shisospicy) – “The plan (before the race) was to let her to be where she wanted to be. She broke so good, and after that, it made everything easier. I had a lot of horse turning for home and never felt anyone was close to me. I kept waiting and no one was able to get close. That was the key.”
Second-place trainer Richard Baltas (Ag Bullet) – “She ran great. Second-best today. She’s been a great horse. We’ve had her since she was a yearling, buying her for $220,000, turned her out a couple times. She’s been a wonderful horse, who’s brought us a lot of joy and excitement. We’re going to sell her at Night of the Stars next week at Fasig-Tipton and she is getting on a plane tonight. It’s a little (bittersweet), yes, but it’s a business decision, an owner’s decision and she’s made like $3 million and been very good to us.”
Second-place jockey John Velazquez (Ag Bullet) – “Perfect spot and I thought the horse on the lead would come back a bit, but she never did. She (Ag Bullet) responded nicely, but the horse on the lead kept running. She ran very well, gave me a really good run.”
Third-place jockey Frankie Dettori (Khaadem (IRE)) – “By reading the form, I knew they were going to go hard, and I couldn’t ask for any more. For a 9-year-old gelding against the best sprinters in the world, third is quite a good job. He thinks he’s 2, honestly. The winner was head and shoulders above everybody else. It’s a shame I couldn’t catch Ag Bullet, but third is good enough.
“Full credit to Charlie Hills. A 9-year-old gelding getting third in a Breeders Cup Turf Sprint against the best sprinters in the world, amazing effort. The blinkers helped and we’ve done a lot of gate schooling and the race went really well. The winner was far too good but I’m just delighted with the run.”
Fourth-place jockey Tyler Gaffalione (Reef Runner) – “On the form, it looked like there was going to be a lot of pace and my horse has a good closing kick. I was relying on that. We had a smooth trip, was able to get through the spots I needed to but was unable to run down the leader. She was much the best today.”
On-Air Statement from American Association of Equine Practitioners On-Call Veterinarian Dr. Scott Hay on She’s Quality: “The jockey had some concern, probably just out of an abundance of caution, but she’s showing some right hind lameness currently; there’s nothing obvious on the limb. She’s going to be transported with the equine ambulance to the hospital where our veterinary experts on standby will evaluate what’s going on with her right now.”
Update Regarding She’s Quality: She’s Quality (IRE) was eased by jockey Colin Keane out of an abundance of caution during the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) and was immediately attended to by multiple members of the Breeders’ Cup Veterinary Team. After walking onto the equine ambulance and undergoing a thorough examination at the Southern California Equine Foundation (SCEF) hospital, she is back at her barn and will continue to be closely monitored.
