ARCADIA, Calif. – In a 12-runner field certain to have a furious pace, there will be quite a scrimmage for early position between Caravel and Live In The Dream in Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. At the short distance of five furlongs, the race affords participants little margin for error. A slow start or traffic issues will doom the chances of any runner in a highly competitive race. Setting the pace, or at least being near the front could solve some of those issues for Caravel, who won the 2022 BC Turf Sprint at Keeneland, and Live In The Dream, a major stakes winner in Britain over the summer. Live In The Dream, one of four foreign-trained runners in the field, won the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at a straightaway five furlongs on turf at York Racecourse in Britain on Aug. 25 to secure an automatic berth in the field. Live In The Dream led throughout against 15 rivals. “He can get into his top speed in two strides,” trainer Adam West said earlier this week. “I think that can be an asset over the five” furlongs. Live In The Dream finished fourth behind BC Turf Sprint runner Arzak in the Woodford Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 7 at Keeneland after leading into the stretch. Live In The Dream will start from post 5 in the Turf Sprint, two positions to the outside of Caravel. :: Get Breeders' Cup Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the DRF Clocker Team when you purchase a BC VIP Package! “Statistically, it’s a strong draw,” West said. “We’ve got Caravel two down from us. We can get on terms with her. Some of the big threats are drawn wide.” West is hoping Live In The Dream can sustain his advantage around the turn and into the stretch. “He can handle the bends quite well,” he said. “If he’s gotten an easy enough time of it, that’s where he will be kicking. They’ll be coming after us.” Caravel won the 2022 BC Turf Sprint in a 42-1 upset by leading throughout. This year, Caravel has won 3 of 5 starts for trainer Brad Cox. The three wins, all in stakes, have been on firm turf, while the losses were in stakes run on good or soft ground. Caravel will get firm turf at Santa Anita on Saturday, much to the relief of Cox. He sensed she struggled when fourth at 1-2 in the Grade 3 Troy Stakes on Aug. 5 at Saratoga on soft turf and again when second at 3-5 in the Grade 2 Franklin Stakes for fillies and mares on Oct. 15 at Keeneland. In the Franklin Stakes, Caravel, who is scheduled to be sold Wednesday at the Keeneland November sale, failed to make the lead from an inside post and closed well to miss catching Turf Sprint runner Tony Ann by a neck. “I thought there was a question mark if she would like the turf,” Cox said. “I thought she ran on well. You could tell it was not her best surface.” Cox expects Caravel to be sharp from the start Saturday. “She’s got to get away well going five-eighths,” he said. “If she gets a good trip, she’ll be tough.” There will be a herd of runners in pursuit, and a few others likely to be prominent early. Nobals, winner of the Da Hoss Stakes on Sept. 9 at Colonial Downs, is quick enough to be part of the pace, while Aesop’s Fables, Gear Jockey, and Tony Ann are likely to be in stalking positions. Others such as Arzak, Big Invasion, Motorious, and Roses for Debra are likely to be farther back early. Bradsell was scratched by his trainer. Arguments can be made on behalf of nearly every runner. Arzak closed from fifth of 12 to win the Woodford Stakes for his fourth stakes win in his 23rd start. The Grade 2 Woodford was Arzak’s second stakes appearance this year, and first win at that level. On Saturday, Arzak has drawn post 12, a concern for trainer Michael Trombetta, who needs the 5-year-old to save ground under jockey Luis Saez. “There is only so much you can do with that,” he said. “You hope you can get away good and catch a seam to get over a bit. This all happens pretty quickly. You’ve got to play the hand your dealt.” While Arzak has drawn wide, Big Invasion has the inside post. “It’s the shortest way back to the winner’s circle,” trainer Christophe Clement said. A seven-time stakes winner, Big Invasion closed from 11th in a field of 14 to finish second by three-quarters of a length behind Caravel in the Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes at six furlongs at Belmont Park in June. Big Invasion won the most prestigious race of his career in his last start, the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes at six furlongs on turf on Oct. 8 at Woodbine. From the inside, jockey Joel Rosario will be entrusted in finding his way through the field on Big Invasion. :: Breeders' Cup Shop: DRF Past Performances available now At some point in the final quarter-mile, Big Invasion and Motorious could be racing near each other. Motorious earned an automatic berth in the Turf Sprint with a win in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf on Sept. 2 at Del Mar. Motorious closed from seventh with a wide rally to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Geovanni Franco rode Motorious in that race, but has been replaced by Flavien Prat who rode the 5-year-old Motorious in the gelding’s previous five starts. Motorious drew post 10. “He should get a clean trip on the outside,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “Flavien knows him very well. “Going five-eighths of a mile, your degree of difficulty is high. Flavien has been in these kind of situations many times, more than most. I rely on him. His knowledge of this horse should give him the green light to ride with confidence and hopefully win a Breeders’ Cup.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.