Kopion didn’t just win the Grade 2 Santa Monica last weekend, she made a statement. In a performance that left no doubt, she blew the doors off the West Coast’s first major sprint for fillies and mares, stamping herself as the new sheriff in town. Her speed figure? Faster than any female on any surface in the U.S. last year. Statement sent.

After Kopion’s powerhouse performance, here’s how the female sprinters rank after their season debut.

Female sprinters


1. Kopion. Back-to-back dominant wins in the La Brea (G1) and Santa Monica, both with speed figures no one in this division was able to muster last year. She’s the one to beat in this division.

2. Soul of an Angel. Closed like a rocket to capture the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, which ultimately won her the Eclipse in this division. Last out her connections tried to stretch her to a mile and she didn’t run badly, closing for a narrow loss when third.

3. Mystic Lake. Won the Inside Information (G2) in her seasonal debut and last year won five sprint stakes.

4. Hope Road. Second best to the top one in the Santa Monica last out, won two stakes last season.

5. Spirit Wind. Was very good last season winning three stakes, the highlight being the Honorable Miss (G2) at Saratoga.

Next five: Richi, Scylla, Pleasant, Emery, Jody’s Pride

I can already hear the first question. Why is Kopion ranked in the female sprint division but not among the older dirt females? Simple. She has raced six times, winning all four sprints and losing both tries at longer distances. When she stretched to 8 1/2 furlongs in last year’s Santa Anita Oaks (G2) she was fourth, beaten by 16 lengths. This isn’t advanced calculus, it’s just common sense. She’s a sprinter, plain and simple.

Of course, I fully expect her connections to take the bait and try stretching her out, much like what’s happening with Soul of an Angel. And in both cases, you can expect disappointment. But as long as Kopion stays where she belongs, she’s a top contender for the Eclipse and, come year’s end, one of the biggest threats in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

Kopion’s 110 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form in the Santa Monica raised eyebrows. In today’s landscape, that number is a rarity. Last season, only three horses, Sierra Leone, Fierceness, and Arthur’s Ride, ran faster. Was the figure a touch generous? Probably. But make no mistake, her performance was electric.

Now comes the real test. Will her connections let her thrive as a sprinting star, or will they take the all-too-common detour of stretching her out again? Hopefully, they resist the temptation. There’s nothing wrong with being a dominant sprinter, and this sport could use more of them.

Older dirt males



1. White Abarrio. Not sure what has led to his resurgence in this division, but I’ll leave those answers for another day. After a year away from the throne, he’s back on top with a vengeance after his dominant Pegasus World Cup (G1) victory. Will skip Saudi Arabia and stay in the U.S. to race for the remainder of the season, with the Ghostzapper (G3) in March at Gulfstream his next start followed by the Met Mile (G1) in June.

2. Sierra Leone. He drops to this spot because running matters, and White Abarrio has shown up and delivered. He brought his A game in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, putting Fierceness and Forever Young away with authority. Spare me the “lucky trip” talk. The numbers back up his win. He covered extra ground while the early speed held and still proved best. He earned that Eclipse, but now he will miss what was an expected run in the Saudi Cup. That might may be a blessing in disguise. Look for him to return in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in April and then move on to the Stephen Foster (G1) at Churchill in June.

3. Fierceness. He ran a strong second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, backing up two earlier Grade 1 wins that sparked Eclipse debate with Sierra Leone. Likely sidelined until spring, with no guarantee he returns to the track.

4. Locked. Kicked off his season with a distant runner-up finish to White Abarrio in the Pegasus. Missed most of his 3-year-old season after being one of the top 2-year-olds of 2023 when he won the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and was third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to Fierceness.

5. Hit Show. Started his season right with a win last out in the Louisiana Stakes (G3). This guy has won graded stakes in four of his last five starts.

Next five: Hit Show, Subsanador, Full Serrano, Highland Falls, Rattle N Roll

Older dirt females

1. Thorpedo Anna. With Idiomatic and Awesome Result out of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, she cruised to victory over a weak field. Although her 2024 season was impressive, she faced a historically weak 3-year-old filly division. She deservedly won horse of the year, but the hyperbole is somewhat over the top. She starts this season as an easy choice to lead this division and should run next in the Azeri (G2) at Oaklawn on March 8.

2. Raging Sea. Runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, she delivered as expected. Her 2024 highlight was upsetting Idiomatic in the Personal Ensign (G1). She starts this season here in this spot far back of the leader.

3. Power Squeeze. She didn’t embarrass herself against the males in the Pegasus World Cup, but she clearly didn’t belong as she finished eighth beaten by 11 lengths. She won three graded stakes in 2024 and ended her season with a runner-up finish in the Rampart Stakes at Gulfstream.

4. Candied. She was third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and the Spinster (G1) after Grade 1 runner-up finishes to Thorpedo Anna in the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama. She’s consistently close, but her only win from six starts last season came in the Lady’s Secret at Monmouth.

5. Gun Song. She narrowly lost to Tarifa in the Mother Goose (G2) and almost upset the Cotillion (G1) after a strong rally before that. I expect her to contend in this division this season.

Next five: Sugar Fish, Randomized, Cavalieri, Tarifa, Soul of an Angel, Kopion

3-year-old males

1. Citizen Bull. Dominant once again, this time in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita. Although he was assigned a 98 Beyer, the highest of last weekend’s three major division races, I peg it about 8 to 10 points lower based on several factors. The reigning Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and 2-year-old champ will stay in California for his next start, likely in the San Felipe (G2) in early March or the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in April.

2. Journalism. This son of Curlin looked very good defeating a solid field last out in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). He was 2-for-3 last season. Will make his 2025 debut in the San Felipe in March at Santa Anita.

3. Barnes. Already has won a graded stakes this season, last out in the San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita. This highly regarded son of Into Mischief likely will run next at Oaklawn in the Rebel (G2) on Feb. 22.

4. Chancer McPatrick. Off the board in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but he had a very good 2-year-old season. Those first three starts were impressive, with two Grade 1 wins that made him a standout early on. Could kick off his season in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 8, with the Blue Grass (G1) in April as the next target.

5. East Avenue. Last year’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner was flat when it mattered most in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. I’m not sold. He looks like a classic need-the-lead type who crumbles when things don’t go his way. Until he proves he can take a punch and keep running, I’m skeptical. Will run next in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 22.

Next 10: Captain Cool, Rated by Merit, Rodriguez , Disco Time, Speed King, Burnham Square, Sandman, Sovereignty, Getaway Car, Coal Battle

3-year-old fillies

1. Immersive. Aside from Thorpedo Anna’s Distaff, no one on the dirt impressed more than this gal at the Breeders’ Cup. Like Thorpedo, she was a lock for the Eclipse. With a 4-for-4 record and three Grade 1s under her belt, she’s off to great start to her career. On the shelf now for a while and will drop from this spot soon.

2. Good Cheer. Won the Golden Rod (G2) last out impressively to run her record to 4-for-4.

3. Muhimma. Was 3-for-3 as a 2-year-old, winning the Demoiselle Stakes (G2). Should be a major player in this division.

4. Non Compliant. Unbeaten in two starts, she made easy work of her first graded-stakes test in the Oak Leaf (G2) at Santa Anita, cruising past five rivals for the win. As a daughter of Tiz the Law, she already has pedigree on her side. Missed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

5. Tenma. She beat only two others last out in a six-length win in the Las Virgenes (G3) and prior to that she scored a win in the Starlet (G2) in her final start at age 2. Still not sure she is ranked too high here.

Next five: Scottish Lassie, Quickick, Quietside, La Cara, Eclatant.

Turf males

1. Spirit of St Louis. Solid win in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), where he won his first graded stakes. Now a winner of 10 of his 14 starts, this guy should be a major player in this division for the remainder of 2025.

2. Johannes. Won another race last out, this time the San Gabriel (G2). He finished 2024 with five graded-stakes wins from six starts. His only loss was a second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, behind only More Than Looks. Now sidelined with an injury.

3. Carl Spackler. He finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, just over two lengths back, but had a solid season last year with two Grade 1 wins.

4. Far Bridge. He finished ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, beaten by five lengths, but had a strong two-race win streak prior, scoring in the Joe Hirsch (G1) and Sword Dancer (G1). Back in 2025.

5. Integration. Very good runner-up finish to the top one in the Pegasus Turf, where he came up a neck short.

Next five: Dashman, Nation’s Pride, Gold Phoenix, Motorious, Mi Hermano Ramon

Turf females

1. She Feels Pretty. Starts the season on top here after capping off her 3-year-old season with back-to-back Grade 1 wins in the Queen Elizabeth at Keeneland and the American Oaks at Santa Anita.

b Captured the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2) for her third straight graded-stakes victory, proving she’s in the best form of her 18-race career. With three of her five career wins coming in her last three starts, she’s on a roll now.

3. Sacred Wish. Turned in a strong runner-up effort in the Pegasus Filly * Mare Turf, falling just a neck short to Be Your Best. Last season’s Matriarch (G1) winner has been a consistent player, hitting the board in three other graded stakes in 2024.

4. Raqiya. Fifth in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf she won the Goldikova (G3) prior to that in her first start in this country.

5. AG Bullet. Third last out in the Matriarch, and before that she was third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Next five: Kathynmarissa, Star of Mystery, , Prerequisite, Ocean Club

Male sprinters

1. Straight No Chaser. Won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in just his third start of 2024. His only other win was the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2), with an off-the-board finish in the Runhappy (G3). He starts the season here on top and will run next in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 22.

2. Mullikin. Finished second in the Cigar Mile (G2) behind Locked after a third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He earned his first Grade 1 win in the Forego and first graded win in the Nerud (G2). The 4-year-old colt is 5-for-10 in his career and will be back in 2025.

3. The Chosen Vron. Despite a close second in the Pat O’Brien (G2), his first loss in six starts last season, his record remains impressive, 19 wins from 25 starts, 18 in stakes. Missed the Breeders’ Cup but went 5-for-6 last year, including the Bing Crosby (G1). Will be back in 2025.

4. Raging Torrent. Nice winner of the Malibu last out for his first Grade 1 win. Was 4-for-7 last season. Connections are targeting the Godolphin Mile (G2) in early April.

5. Bentornato. Scratched from the Malibu, he previously finished runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and won the Gallant Bob (G2) last September.

Next five: Nakatomi, Mufasa, Federal Judge, Book’em Danno, Tejano Twist