Bacio aims to leverage his raw speed and home-field advantage in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

The 3-year-old colt trained by Wesley Ward arrives as the favorite after capturing the Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) in England. Comanche Brave, Cy Fair, and Miss Yechance emerge among his primary rivals in an 1,100-meter contest that promises a blistering pace

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (From a special correspondent).— Bacio (Maclean's Music) made history in Europe, and now he looks to complete his extraordinary season with a victory on home soil. The 3-year-old colt, conditioned by Wesley Ward, will be one of the prime contenders in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1), contested this Saturday over 1,100 meters on the Keeneland lawn for a $1-million purse.

His standout credential is his landmark victory in the Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York, where he defeated 17 rivals by 1 1/4 lengths to make Ward the first American trainer to win that historic British feature.

No Nunthorpe winner has ever subsequently captured the Turf Sprint, but Bacio possesses a unique edge: Keenelandis his home track.

“Any athlete enjoys an advantage when competing on their home field. It's no different with horses,” Ward explained.

The colt enters riding a four-race winning streak, all over 1,000 meters on the turf. Prior to the Nunthorpe, he took the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Royal Ascot, displaying devastating raw speed.

Now he must stretch out an additional 100 meters and, crucially, navigate a far more intense early pace battle.

“He's the favorite for a reason, but in Europe he was able to dictate comfortably on the lead. That likely won't happen here,” his trainer acknowledged.

One of the primary beneficiaries of a contested pace battle could be Comanche Brave (Wootton Bassett), trained by Donnacha O'Brien.

The 4-year-old colt comes off a victory in the Flying Five Stakes (G1) at The Curragh, where he overcame traffic trouble and charged between runners to win by 1 1/4 lengths. “There will be much more early speed than in Europe. I believe the additional 100 meters will play right into our hands,” noted O'Brien.

Another major threat is Cy Fair (Not This Time), heroine of the 2025 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1),which handed George Weaver his first career Breeders' Cup victory.

The 3-year-old filly added two G3 wins during 2026, though she comes in off a sixth-place effort in the Music City Stakes (G2).

“This will be a tougher test, but she is training exceptionally well, and we're proud to bring her back,” Weaver stated.

The lineup also features the last two winners of the Turf Sprint: Starlust (Zoustar), who scored in 2024, and Shisospicy (Mitole), the defending champion.

Starlust remains winless in nine starts since his upset at Del Mar, while Shisospicy enters following a six-month layoff.

Prominent among the domestic fleet are Time to Dazzle (Not This Time), winner of the Franklin Stakes (G2), and Joe Shiesty (Air Force Blue), who captured the Woodford Stakes (G2) with a stellar 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

European invader Miss Yechance (Cotai Glory) arrives riding a four-race winning streak, capped by her victory in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (G1), confirming her rapid ascension.

“She is compact, but incredibly powerful. She made immense physical progress throughout the summer,” explained trainer Karl Burke.

Another contender to monitor is Roja (Karakontie), trained by Graham Motion, who has won three straight on the front end and could press Bacio and John the Beer Man (More Than Ready) from the start.

Rounding out the field are In Our Time (Not This Time), recent winner of the Ladies Turf Sprint (G1); Possiblemente (Tale of Ekati); Sorrento Sky (Prince of Lir); and Yellow Card (Lost Treasure).

Sorrento Sky travels from California on the heels of back-to-back G2 victories, after his connections paid a $200,000 supplemental fee to enter the World Championships.

The sheer volume of speed portends a high-octane contest in which tactical execution will prove decisive.