Shisospicy gives Mitole his first Breeders’ Cup winner

Shisospicy went gate-to-wire in an electrifying performance in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) Saturday at Del Mar to become the first Grade 1 and Breeders’ Cup winner for Mitole.

Mitole is a clear second on this year’s Third-Crop sire list, behind Omaha Beach, by progeny earnings, and is the leading sire by individual winners.

Shisospicy, who won the Music City S. (G2) at Kentucky Downs in her prior start, flew out of the gate Saturday and immediately opened up a one-length lead. None of her 11 foes could match her speed as she went :21.75 and :43.86. Despite the torrid early pace, Shisospicy widened her lead in the stretch to win by 2 ½-lengths in :55.24 for five furlongs on the firm turf.

“I knew that she was going to explode today with her speed, and it worked out perfectly,” said trainer Jose D’Angelo. “With her speed, I just trained her for the race.”

Owned by Morplay Racing, LLC and Qatar Racing, LLC, four-time stakes winner Shisospicy is now 6-1-1 in nine starts and has earned $2,090,270. The gray/roan filly was bred by Bill Heiligbrodt & Corinne Heiligbrodt.