DR. SCHIVEL ALL HEART AS HE TAKES GRADE II, $200,000 SANTA ANITA SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY ESTRELLA JALISCO BY A HEAD WHILE GETTING SIX FURLONGS IN 1:08.49

A KEY PREP TO THE GRADE I BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT NOV. 4, RACE IS PART OF BC ‘DIRT DOZEN’

ARCADIA, CA (Sept. 30, 2023)—The stage is set for what could be one of the most compelling stories of this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships, as trainer Mark Glatt’s 5-year-old Dr. Schivel, beaten a heartbreaking nose when second in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, out-gamed a determined Speed Boat Beach by a head in taking Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship presented by Estrella Jalisco, which his connections hope will propel him to victory in this year’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint Nov. 4 at Del Mar.

Over a main track rendered wet-fast due to sporadic rain earlier in the day, Dr. Schivel pressed the early pace from his number two post and slipped inside early pacesetter Sir Atticus three furlongs out with Speed Boat Beach on the outside of a three-horse spread turning for home. With Speed Boat Beach relentless through the drive, Dr. Schivel found more at the rail, getting six furlongs with Juan Hernandez up in 1:08.49.

Idle for nearly all of 2022, Dr. Schivel was a scintillating 4 ¼ length classified allowance winner going six panels in his seasonal debut three starts back here on May 23. The 5-year-old full horse by Violence was then a well beaten fifth by Eclipse Award winner Cody’s Wish in the Grade I Met Mile at Belmont Park June 10 and was most recently a fast finishing third, beaten a neck, by top sprinter The Chosen Vron in the six furlong Bing Crosby Stakes May 13 at Del Mar.

Off as the 2-1 post time favorite in a field of nine 3-year-olds and up today, he paid $6.80, $3.60 and $2.60.

Out of the Mining for Money mare Lil Nugget, Dr. Schivel is owned by Red Baron’s Barn, LLC, Rancho Temescal, LLC, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and William A. Branch. A Grade I winner at two and three, Dr. Schivel, who won the 2021 running of the Santa Anita Sprint Championship, is now a four-time graded stakes winner and is 14-7-2-3 overall. With today’s winner’s share of $120,000, he increased his earnings to $1,327,100.

Idle since Dec. 2 of last year, Speed Boat Beach ran too good to lose under Victor Espinoza, finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of a fast finishing Fort Bragg. Trained by Bob Baffert, Speed Boat Beach was off as the second choice at 3-1 and returned $4.60 and $3.80.

Fort Bragg, under Ramon Vazquez, was off at 10-1 and paid $4.80 while finishing three quarters of a length in front of Sir Atticus.

Fractions on the race were 22.08, 44.27 and 56.19.