Can Golden Pal better former stablemate Lady Aurelia and land the Turf Sprint?

Saturday: 7.40 Del Mar
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1) | 5f | 3yo+ | ITV4/RTV/Sky

When this race was run at Del Mar in 2017 they ran the first quarter mile in a blistering 21.98secs and even the speedy Wesley Ward-trained Lady Aurelia couldn't keep up.

For a race run at such a quick pace around just one turn on a turf track that often favours low-drawn runners, you'd have expected single-figure stalls to dominate, but that wasn't the case and the first two to the turn came from gates 11 and 12.

Lady Aurelia was drawn inside in stall three but still couldn't hold the wider runners, so it will be interesting to see whether the Ward-trained Golden Pal can do so from the same gate.

Golden Pal was far too quick for his British counterparts through the first two furlongs in the Nunthorpe at York and nothing could get close to him. According to the sectionals on RacingTV.com, he ran the first two furlongs in 22.98secs.

That is fully a second slower than they ran the first quarter in this race in 2017 but, in US races, they have a 'run-up' where they travel a short distance before the timer starts. In Del Mar's case for the Turf Sprint in 2017 it was only eight feet, nevertheless, it probably isn't wise to compare like-for-like when looking at the times alongside York.

Furthermore, Golden Pal was quick enough to make all in the Juvenile Turf Sprint last year at Keeneland, albeit over an extra half-furlong, and that bodes well for his chances of bettering his former stablemate Lady Aurelia's tenth four years ago.

There are three European sprinters in opposition and Glass Slippers became the first from the continent to win this race last year. She was no stronger than at the finish, but it was good going and five and a half furlongs at Keeneland and this sharp five on fast turf might not suit.

Emaraaty Ana finished five places ahead of Golden Pal in the Nunthorpe and has since won the Sprint Cup at Haydock over six. He will be looking to come on late and similar comments apply for Abbaye winner A Case Of You, who finished strongly at Longchamp.

The one thing all three have in common is a low draw, but the first five in 2017 were in gates four, seven, one, 11 and 12, so maybe that's not even an advantage.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Ryan returns with two darts in Turf Sprint

Kevin Ryan enjoyed one of the highlights of his career when Glass Slippers conjured a dramatic triumph by squeezing through the eye of a needle under Tom Eaves to get up in this race 12 months ago.

They return to try to recapture that magic after being beaten five lengths by A Case Of You in the Prix de l'Abbaye. According to the betting, though, Ryan has a better chance of winning with Emaraaty Ana, who followed his Nunthorpe second with a short-head defeat of Starman in the Sprint Cup.

Andrea Atzeni's mount has been kept fresh since then and will love the fast ground. Glass Slippers is drawn in stall one and Emaraaty Ana is right beside him, with Golden Pal in stall three.

"Both horses are in great form and they have good draws, which is important," Ryan said. "Glass Slippers ran great in the Abbaye. She handles cut in the ground but she doesn't want it that deep. It will be the opposite here but she has run really well on fast ground at Goodwood."

Emaraaty Ana has improved this year and Ryan said: "Giving him a bit more of a chance in his races has been the making of him. He was using his speed too early and not finishing, whereas now he is taking a lead and showing a lovely turn of foot. A strong pace will suit him."

On home soil, Golden Pal is probably the horse they all have to beat. It didn't happen for Wesley Ward's 2020 Juvenile Turf Sprint victor in the Nunthorpe, but he is an explosive operator on his day.

A Case Of You will also be fascinating to watch. The Flying Five runner-up confirmed his potential when getting up in the Abbaye under Ronan Whelan. This will be a very different test, but Ado McGuinness is optimistic he is still progressing.

What they say

Wesley Ward, trainer of Golden Pal, Arrest Me Red and Kimari
Arrest Me Red ran well at Belmont. He's quick, but he's not as fast as Golden Pal. The first step – Golden Pal's just gone. I don't think anyone will be in front of him, but you never know in a race like this. I would have preferred to be a little farther out than stall three, but at least I'm not in one or two. I don't think there's speed on the inside or outside of him, so that's good. I would have preferred to be in the Filly & Mare Sprint with Kimari, but we would have needed a prep and there just wasn't enough time.

Ado McGuinness, trainer of A Case Of You
We're very happy with him. We've a nice draw in six because the favourite and Kevin Ryan's two horses are on our inside. They will go forward and we can slot in. I would be disappointed if he doesn't run a massive race.

Rusty Arnold, trainer of Gear Jockey
On paper, it looks like Golden Pal will go the front. I'd like to be fourth or fifth early. Five-eighths is not his best distance, but we have got him as sharp as we can.

Brendan Walsh, trainer of Extravagant Kid
He's run plenty of five-furlong races and they're going to go very fast, which will help him. He's drawn in stall 14 and was beaten only a length last year. I can't see him being too far away.
Reporting by Richard Forristal at Del Mar

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