BC Sprints Focus: Private Zone versus Runhappy

The sprint lost a key player October 10 with the tragic news of Rock Fall’s catastrophic breakdown during a routine training session at Keeneland. The ultra-talented and consistent runner won grade 1 races in each of his last two races while boasting a sterling record of 7 wins in 8 career starts. The Todd Pletcher trainee’s only defeat came in his career debut when finishing eighth on April 12, 2014 at Gulfstream. He had reeled off seven straight wins following that race and would have been the likely favorite.

Private Zone shortens up 

Private Zone, another top contender, will reportedly opt for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint after his connections considered a start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. The versatile six year-old gelding has been very effective running at seven furlongs and a mile in his career, but is also a grade 1 winner at the classic six furlong sprint distance. Private Zone’s propensity to run on the lead will be tested against a much faster bunch than he has seen this year, but this guy always seems primed for a huge run.

Talented three year-old is loaded

Runhappy is the newcomer of the group. The talented three year-old colt hails from the unheralded barn of Maria Borel and exploded upon the scene after winning the Grade 1 King’s Bishop and Grade 3 Phoenix Stakes in succession, defeating 2014 Breeders’ Cup Sprint Champ Work All Week in the latter race. Another gate-to-wire style of runner, Runhappy showed the ability to outbreak an extremely fast field in the Pheonix while carving out wicked fractions over a sloppy Keeneland track. This colt seems like the genuine article, and he is still improving. When the gates open for the 2015 BC spring, the duo ofPrivate Zone and Runhappy will likely be the top two betting choices and there doesn’t appear to be any false favoritism in this event.