DEL MAR, Calif. - From Starlust’s position toward the rear of the field midway through Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar, jockey Rossa Ryan feared that the heavily favored Cogburn was too far in front. Very soon, Ryan had a different outlook just as Starlust began moving forward. “At the top of the straight, I thought I’d be in the top four,” Ryan said. “We were getting a good run.” It was a great run in the end. A 3-year-old British-bred colt, Starlust closed from more than four lengths off the front to win the $1 million BC Turf Sprint at five furlongs in a 33-1 upset for owner Fitriani Hay and trainer Ralph Beckett. The win is part of a remarkable autumn for Ryan and Beckett, who teamed to win the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris on Oct. 6 with Bluestocking, who has since been retired. Starlust retained the victory in the BC Turf Sprint after an inquiry that focused on whether the colt interfered with Isivunguvungu in the final furlong. Stewards Grant Baker, Luis Jauregui and Kim Sawyer acknowledged that Starlust moved out and made contact with Isivunguvungu, but that the incident did not merit a change in the order of finish. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Isivunguvungu was second with a furlong remaining and faded to finish seventh. Graham Motion, who trains Isivunguvungu, described the decision as “weird.” Jockey Manny Franco was equally as perplexed. “I don’t know what would have been the outcome if I didn’t stop riding,” he said. The disappointment in the field was Cogburn, the easy winner of three consecutive turf sprint stakes earlier this year at Churchill Downs, Saratoga and Kentucky Downs. Sent off as the 4-5 favorite, Cogburn led by a head over Bradsell after the first 100 yards, running the opening quarter-mile in 21.59 seconds. Cogburn extended his lead to three on the turn and was in front by 2 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining when the chasing pack began to close ground. Cogburn, trained by Steve Asmussen, faded to finish fifth, but was beaten only 1 1/4 lengths. “He didn’t get away as good today,” Asmussen said. “He had to rush a little bit.” The race lost an important runner when Believing became upset in the gate and was scratched on advice of a track veterinarian. Believing was 11-1 at the time. Starlust ($69.20) was timed in 55.92 seconds. Starlust was given a Beyer Speed Figure of 102. Motorious (12-1) closed from 10th to finish second in her first start since a win in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 31. When Believing was withdrawn, Motorious inherited the inside post. Ridden by Antonio Fresu for trainer Phil D’Amato, Motorious raced on the inside to early stretch when he rallied between rivals. “From the rail that was as good a trip as you can get,” D’Amato said. “Antonio moved out in the stretch. If I can get that trip every time from the rail, I’ll take it.” Motorious finished a nose in front of 9-1 Ag Bullet. Star of Mystery finished fourth, followed by Cogburn, Arzak, Isivunguvungu, Big Evs, Howard Wolowitz, Big Invasion and Bradsell. Bradsell was the 6-1 second choice on the strength of two Group 1 wins in five-furlong turf stakes in Britain and Ireland in late summer. Starlust was third by three-quarters of a length behind Bradsell and Believing in the Grade 1 Nunthorpe Stakes on a straightaway five furlongs on turf at York Racecourse on Aug. 23 and was ninth of 16 after sustaining significant trouble in the final furlong of the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye at five furlongs on a straightaway turf course at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on Oct. 6. “He was unlucky in the Abbaye in the sense that Rossa nearly got put through the rail,” Beckett said. “It was a good run in the Nunthorpe.” Last November, Starlust closed from eighth to finish third behind Big Evs in the Grade 1 BC Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. Beckett said the one-turn layout of the BC Turf Sprint was another factor in why Starlust was sent to California. “He was very good around a bend last year in the Juvenile Turf,” Beckett said. Starlust was lucky in the BC Turf Sprint, surviving an inquiry. By the Northern Meteor stallion Zoustar, Starlust has won 6 of 18 starts and earned $915,137. The lucrative BC Turf was his first stakes win since the $89,600 City of Walls Stakes at five furlongs on turf at York in July. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.