Kentucky Downs Helps Shisospicy Get Breeders’ Cup Win

The gameplan for winning a Breeders’ Cup race can vary depending on different factors. The race your targeting, the surface, the potential competition, and of course the nature of the four-legged phenom. For trainer Jose D’Angelo, the key ingredient to his first ever Breeders’ Cup win was perhaps where he prepared his freakishly fast filly.

Kentucky Downs has become the place to be in late summer in recent years, if you are a turf runner. The purse structure is unbelievable and that makes for outstanding competition as well. But because it is a European style race course with undulation, some say it is not good to prep there for the Breeders’ Cup. The fact a Kentucky Downs graduate had not gone on to win a Cup race in the same year as they were victorious just north of the Tennessee state line backed up the theory. After the 2025 Turf Sprint at Del Mar and the work of D’Angelo’s filly Shisospicy, those thoughts are changing.

Shisospicy made her way to Seaside Oval off a convincing score in the Music City Stakes at Kentucky Downs on September 6. Besting eleven other three-year-old fillies at six and a half furlongs by a widening three lengths, this daughter of Mitole dropped more than a few jaws that day. The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint was at only five furlongs and against the boys, so many wondered why her conditioner had chosen a longer race at of all places this kidney-shaped track in south Kentucky.

“There were more than a few people that questioned our decision to run her at Kentucky Downs as our final prep for the Breeders’ Cup”, says Jose D’Angelo. “I wanted the longer distance to build fitness and those who know Kentucky Downs understand it actually plays longer than a normal track because of the ups and downs. We knew going against the boys in the Breeders’ Cup was going to be the biggest challenge of her racing life. Being fit enough to carry her speed against the top runners in the world was what we were after and the Music City Stakes was exactly what we needed to try and achieve that goal.”

When Shisospicy toed the turf of the Jimmy Durante turf course on November 1, her look was magnificent to say the least. Breaking like a shot, D’Angelo’s darling immediately assumed command. Leading her eleven other pursuers through a fast opening quarter mile (21.75), carrying that speed was going to be the challenge. With wings on all four feet, Shisospicy turned for home and flew toward the finish. With her fitness at the forefront, she pulled away from the pack under an expert ride from Irad Ortiz Jr. Inside the final furlong the question was not “if” but “by how much” when it came to winning the race. Lighting up that California grass as if it were a Cheech and Chong movie, Shisospicy was much the best.

“The break was our focus going into the race”, says D’Angelo. “We felt like she was fit enough based on our preparation, she just needed to make the lead out of the gate and make them all chase her. She has always been a naturally fast horse and the sky is the limit type runner. We couldn’t he happier with how she performed to meet our expectations.”

The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint victory was the fifth trip to the winner’s circle in seven starts this year. For her career, this granddaughter of Into Mischief has now won six races in nine starts with 1 second and one third place finish. Shisospicy has earned $2,090,000 on the track. She was purchased for $300,000 as a two-year-old and following her Breeders’ Cup triumph was sold for $5.2 million on November 3.