2022 Sprinters Stakes headlines Sunday’s card at the Nakayama Racecourse in Japan. The G1 event attracted some exciting horses, including smart Schnell Meister, who will face a progressive sprinter, Meikei Yell.
Sprinters Stakes
The prestigious G1 race is open to three-year-old and older horses who will fight for the purse of 328,800,000 Yen. The field of sixteen participants will cover the distance of six furlongs on the turf surface where Meikei Yell could complete a hattrick. The four-year-old filly trained by Hidenori Take has always been showing some talent.
As a junior, she was unbeaten in three starts, including a couple of G3 victories, and even though she didn’t succeed among the elite, she at least scored the G2 Tulip Sho in 2021. In the ongoing season, Meikei Yell added another G3 win to her resume, followed by two triumphs at the G2 scene.
In May, she bagged the Keio Hai Spring Sho, and in September, the daughter of Mikki Isle easily delivered in the G2 Sankei Sho Centaur Stakes. Meikei Yell can run well over six to eight furlongs, and if she maintains her form until Sunday, she could improve last year’s fourth place in Sprinter Stakes.
Schnell Meister is another classy contestant of the race; however, the Takahisa Tezuka bound bay has never run in such a short race. The four-year-old son of Kingman has nine starts under his belt. As a two-year-old, he won a Stakes race over a mile, while this trip seems to suit him the most as in 2021, he scored the G1 NHK Mile Cup and placed in the G1 Yasuda Kinen and Mile Championship.
Schnell Meister was disappointing with his performance in Dubai; indeed, however, his return to the Japanese tracks resulted in second place in the Yasuda Kinen. Still, he hasn’t hit the track since June, which in combination with the questionable distance, keeps hopes about the colt’s victory a bit reserved. Namura Clair seems to be the best three-year-old in the field as she finished third in the Japanese 1000 Guineas, upon which she aimed at shorter races. With two G3 victories to her, she doesn’t look ready to score the Sprinters Stakes, but she should run a good race.
Although he spent most of his career among the lesser competition, Naran Huleg is a G1 victor because he caused an upset in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March. However, he failed to subsequently repeat the effort in the Yasuda Kinen; therefore, he will probably place at best here.
The last to mention is five-year-old Vento Voce, who recorded his premiere Graded success last time out. He prevailed in the G3 Keeneland Cup over six furlongs in August, finally affirming to be a solid Graded performer. Still, Vento Voce has been giving the impression he’s capable of more than winning a G3, so he might surprise some of his rivals on Sunday.
2022 Sprinters Stakes Betting Pick
Meikei Yell, whose career results hint she’s a G1 victress in the making.
| HORSE | JOCKEY | ODDS BY JAZZSPORTS |
| T M Spada | K.Kokubun | +2300 |
| Gendarme | K.Ogino | +1770 |
| Naran Huleg | K.Maruta | +2300 |
| Diatonic | Y.Iwata | +5500 |
| Eighteen Girl | S.Akiyama | +5500 |
| Win Marvel | K.Matsuyama | +2700 |
| First Force | T.Danno | +16600 |
| Namura Clair | S.Hamanaka | +240 |
| Taisei Vision | Y.Fukunaga | +1770 |
| Travesura | K.Sameshima | +2000 |
| Vento Voce | A.Nishimura | +2300 |
| Meikei Yell | K.Ikezoe | +100 |
| Schnell Meister | T.Yokoyama | +1020 |
| Maria’s Heart | K.Kikuzawa | +16690 |
Stay tuned for the latest Breeders’ Cup Odds. Check out the World’s major Racetrack Entries, and Horse Racing Results and don’t forget to Sign-up and get up to a 10% horse rebate. We offer the best rebate, check the Terms & Conditions here!
Raise your winning opportunities with our Horse Betting Guide. We have a guide for all levels! Beginners, Intermediate Handicappers!
Follow us on Social Media for more 2022 Sprinters Stakes updates!