T O Elvis Has Options Ahead Of Breeders’ Cup Sprint Bid

T O Elvis, the Japanese-based winner of the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes during Kentucky Derby week, may or may not have a prep race before a run in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland, Thoroughbred Daily News reports.

Trained by Daisuke Takayanagi, the son of Volatile is among the preliminary entries for the G3 Korea Sprint at Seoul Racecourse on Sept. 6. The six-furlong race is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and Japanese-trained racehorses have won four of its eight runnings. 

If T O Elvis does not compete in Korea, he could run in a race stateside or train up to the Breeders’ Cup, according to TDN. The Churchill Downs is his 4-year-old debut and his first race since a victory in the G3 Capella Stakes at Nakayama in Deccember. 

T O Elvis was the first U.S. starter for his trainer, who also trains Kentucky Derby eighth-place finisher Wonder Dean. T O Elvis would be Takayanagi’s first Breeders’ Cup starter.

Now owned by Tomoya Ozasa, T O Elvis was bred in Kentucky by Jeff Prunzik and Melissa Prunzik. 

Read more at thoroughbreddailynews.com.