Breeders Cup Turf Sprint: Dettori to ride Undrafted

Undrafted and jockey Frankie Dettori will be partnered for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, trainer Wesley Ward said. The Grade 1, $1 million race will be run Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Dettori guided Undrafted to a half-length win in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes on June 20 at Ascot. Undrafted has raced once since that six furlong race, finishing second in the $300,000 More Than Ready on Sept. 5 at Kentucky Downs. Ward said the horse’s next start will come in the Breeders’ Cup. “He’s going to train into it,” said Ward.

Undrafted was sent a mile in the More Than Ready to see if it might open up options for the horse, but Ward said he has decided to turn him back in distance to five and a half furlongs for the BC Turf Sprint. “We’re going back to what we do best, be a come-from-behind sprinter,” said Ward.

Undrafted, who races for Wes Welker and Sol Kumin, was third by a half-length in last year’s BC Turf Sprint. The horse is one of three Ward has pointing for the race this year. He said The Great War and Green Mask, both of whom are stakes winners, are also targeting the BC Turf Sprint. “We’re getting serious about the race,” said Ward.