Shisospicy Wins the Turf Sprint to Kick Off a Double for José Francisco D’Angelo

The filly went wire to wire in the turf dash, leading a 1–2 finish for the mares

Irad Ortiz Jr. and Shisospicy Were in Perfect Harmony / BREEDERS' CUP

By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Turf Diario at Del Mar, California)

DEL MAR, California — No one caught a glimpse of her from behind. Shisospicy (Mitole) rocketed from the gate, seized the lead, and never looked back, delivering a commanding wire-to-wire victory in the GI Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, a $1-million dash over 1000 meters of firm Del Mar turf.

Racing for Morplay Racing and Qatar Racing, the 3-year-old filly broke sharply and controlled the pace throughout. With Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons and under the sharp guidance of Venezuelan trainer José Francisco D’Angelo, she blazed to a final time of :55.24, crossing the wire 2½ lengths clear of Ag Bullet (Twirling Candy), while Australian runner Invincible Papa (Shalaa) rounded out the trifecta after pressing the pace early.

“I knew she was going to explode with her speed today, and everything worked out perfectly,” said a jubilant D’Angelo, who secured his first-ever Breeders’ Cup victory—a milestone achievement for the young South American conditioner who has quickly risen among the top ranks of U.S. racing.

The race was won right from the start. Ortiz Jr.—collecting his 22nd Breeders’ Cup win—made sure there were no doubts. “The plan was simple: let her do her thing,” he said. “She broke so fast it was effortless. I had plenty of horse turning for home and never felt anyone close. I waited, but nobody came. That was the key.”

The opening quarter in :21.75 set a blistering tempo, but Shisospicy handled it with authority. She entered the stretch with a clear advantage and never wavered, holding off all challengers with ease. Neither Ag Bullet, coming off a string of solid efforts, nor Invincible Papa, her early shadow, could threaten her dominance.

The win confirmed Shisospicy as one of the most formidable sprinters of her generation. Her record now stands at 9 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, and 1 third, with earnings surpassing $2 million. It was also her third graded stakes victory, all on turf.

Bred in Kentucky by Clifton Farm LLC, Shisospicy is by the brilliant sprinter Mitole out of Mischief Galore (Into Mischief), combining two of the most potent sources of speed in American bloodlines.

For Ortiz Jr., it was another feather in his cap, having also captured this same race in 2021 aboard Golden Pal (Uncle Mo). “These races are all about the break,” said the Puerto Rican star. “If you get the lead with a horse that’s fast and classy, the rest is just rhythm. She made it feel easy.”

For D’Angelo, the day marked a career-defining moment. “Getting here wasn’t easy,” he admitted. “This filly always showed talent, but fine-tuning her energy and focus was the challenge. Today she put it all together. I’m so proud of my team and grateful to the owners who trusted us.”

The Turf Sprint is one of the most explosive races of the Breeders’ Cup—where every fraction counts and the smallest mistake can be costly. Shisospicy made none. She broke like a bullet, stayed straight as an arrow, and hit the wire alone.

A perfect mix of speed, precision, and confidence, her performance left no doubt: in the world of pure sprinting, Shisospicy is—right now—the fastest of them all.