Listenupshance solidified his standing as a top sprinter by capturing his second consecutive graded stakes win on Sunday in the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) over six furlongs at Santa Anita Park. Having already earned an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) with his win in the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, this race also served as a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Sprint, part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series.
The competition thinned to just three runners on Saturday after last year’s Santa Anita Sprint Championship winner, Imagination, and Ahrens were scratched. Listenupshance went off at 6-5 odds, piloted by jockey Emisael Jaramillo for trainer Doug O’Neill. Though initially outrun out of the gate by 3-5 favorite Maximum Bourbon, jockey Umberto Rispoli guided Maximum Bourbon to the rail before Listenupshance swiftly overtook him shortly after the break.
Jaramillo remarked on the horse’s tricky starts in previous races, explaining, “He’s been misbehaving in the gate and ceding ground early, but he can make up those lengths quickly. I had to urge him a bit to reach the front.” Listenupshance set a fast pace with early splits of :21.98 for the quarter-mile and :43.86 for the half-mile, pursued closely by Maximum Bourbon and 5-1 contender March of Time.
Trainer O’Neill praised the performance, noting, “He had to match that lightning-fast early pace and still delivered very impressively.” Listenupshance hit the eighth pole at :55.87 holding a 1½-length advantage and ultimately finished a solid three-quarters of a length ahead of Maximum Bourbon.
Despite not being fully fit for this race, Jaramillo emphasized the strategic purpose: “This was prep for the Breeders’ Cup. We’ve kept him fresh and happy since his July 25 Bing Crosby win. He’ll be at his best for the big race and should be formidable.”
The $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint is scheduled for October 31 at Keeneland.
Listenupshance, a 4-year-old gelding by Shancelot, is owned by Run Fast Racing and Great Friends Stable. Acquired for a modest $10,000 as a yearling at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale, he broke his maiden in a $20,000 maiden claimer at Del Mar last July under trainer Ken Sweezey before being privately purchased by his current connections.
Trainer O’Neill recounted how Listenupshance was unexpectedly entered into tougher races after the purchase, illustrating the horse’s ability to compete at a higher level. One notable example was an Aug. 9 turf allowance optional claimer at Del Mar, which the horse won as a 17-1 longshot by a nose.
O’Neill shared more behind-the-scenes insight from the Santa Anita Winner’s Circle: “Adam Kluger, who put the Run Fast Racing partnership together, had plans for rapper Lil Yachty to come to Del Mar. They aimed to enter Listenupshance in a $10,000 claimer for a safe win and fan excitement. However, with too many entries, the horse didn’t get in and had to be switched to a turf allowance, which he surprisingly won. It shows how unpredictable racing can be—sometimes luck plays a big role, but a talented horse will shine no matter what.”
This latest victory boosted Listenupshance’s career earnings to $558,570 with a record of 5 wins, 3 seconds, and 3 thirds from 14 starts. He paid $4.40 to win.
This story first appeared in the Paulick Report’s News section on September 27, 2026.
Fan Take: For horse racing enthusiasts, Listenupshance’s rapid rise and tough-minded wins represent the thrill of finding a potential superstar in unexpected places. His journey highlights the unpredictability and excitement of the sport, promising an electrifying showdown at this year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
