BREEDERS’ CUP

Field (in alphabetical order)

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Horse Trainer Wt. Affirmed Success Richard Schosberg 126 A.P. Assay Paco Gonzalez 123 Bolshoi Jack Berry 126 Buffalo Dan William Perry 126 Elusive Quality Bill Mott 126 The Exeter Man Bobby Frankel 126 Furlough Shug McGaughey 123 Gold Land Neil Drysdale 126 Grand Slam Wayne Lukas 124 J J’sdream Bobby Barnett 123 Partner’s Hero Wayne Lukas 126 Reraise Craig Dollase 124 Richter Scale Mary Jo Lohmeier Wild Rush Pat Byrne 126 Also Eligible (listed in order of preference) Rare Rock Todd Pletcher 126 Pyramid Peak John Ward 126 Kona Gold Bruce Headley 126 Musafi Darrell Vienna 126 Swiss Yodeler Mike Harrington 126 Olympic Cat Anthony Margotta 126 Tamarisk Wayne Lukas 124 Averti Bill Muir 126 Closed Escrow Darrell Vienna 123 Victor Cooley Malcolm Pierce 126 Receiver Joe Petalino 126

Horse Odds Affirmed Success 2-1 A.P. Assay 15-1 Bolshoi 30-1 Buffalo Dan 20-1 Elusive Quality 15-1 The Exeter Man 30-1 Furlough 50-1 Gold Land 6-1 Grand Slam 20-1 J J’sdream 50-1 Partner’s Hero 15-1 Reraise 8-1 Richter Scale 15-1 Wild Rush 3-1 Also Eligible (listed in order of preference) Rare Rock 30-1 Pyramid Peak 20-1 Kona Gold 15-1 Musafi 30-1 Swiss Yodeler 30-1 Olympic Cat 30-1 Tamarisk 30-1 Averti 30-1 Closed Escrow 30-1 Victor Cooley 30-1 Receiver 50-1

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Story line: Eillo did what many expected in 1984, winning the first Breeders’ Cup Sprint by a nose as the 13-10 favorite.

In the years since, the unexpected has often been the norm in the day’s shortest race. Only twice--Cherokee Run in 1994 and Lit De Justice in 1996--has the favorite won the Sprint in the last 14 runnings.

Along the way, surprises have been provided by Smile at 11-1, Very Subtle at 16-1, Dancing Spree at 16-1, Safely Kept at 12-1, Thirty Slews at 18-1, Desert Stormer at 14-1 (only because she was a member of the three-horse mutuel field) and Elmhurst at 16-1.

This history doesn’t bode well for Affirmed Success, who is likely to be the public choice. Nor does the fact that the gelded son of Affirmed won the seven-furlong Vosburgh at Belmont Park last month. No winner of that Grade I race has ever gone on to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Keys to the race: Although Affirmed Success has been on or near the early lead in his three consecutive wins, horses who show early speed in New York often can’t keep up with horses who have been on the lead in California.

This being said, A.P. Assay could very well be in front early, and she has a good chance to take the field gate-to-wire and become the fourth female--joining Very Subtle, Safely Kept and Desert Stormer--to win the Sprint.

If the early fractions are swift and take their toll, stretch runners like Gold Land and Partner’s Hero should benefit. Gold Land has been consistent throughout 1998 for Neil Drysdale, and Partner’s Hero has two victories at Churchill Downs. Lit De Justice and Elmhurst both came from far back to win this race the last two years.

The pick: At a price, A.P. Assay, who ran too well to lose in the Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup Handicap last month, leads all the way, giving Eddie Delahoussaye his third victory in the Sprint.