Those seeking a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' berth need not look beyond Saturday's GI Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. In Southern California's typically prolific sprinter division, which has supplied so many GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winners over the past 34 years, only five will contest the six-furlong event at Santa Anita.
Ransom the Moon (Malibu Moon) and Roy H (More Than Ready) are familiar, battle-tested rivals and the only surprise would be if one of them didn't win. The Phil D'Amato-trained Ransom the Moon may have the slight edge here based solely on their most recent meeting, when he won Del Mar's GI Bing Crosby S. July 28 by 2 1/4 lengths over Roy H in spite of his rider losing his whip. It was the same result (minus the whip incident) in last year's Bing Crosby. Ransom the Moon, winner of Santa Anita's GII Kona Gold S. last spring and second in this year's renewal Apr. 21, was fourth behind Roy H in this same race last year.
Roy H may not have won his most recent meeting with Ransom the Moon, but he won their two prior: the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar last fall and this race last year. He also has only made three starts this year, including a win in the GII Palos Verdes S. Feb. 3 at this track and a third-place finish in Meydan's G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen.
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