Hightail edges favored Merit Man to win Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) -- Hightail edged 1-2 favorite Merit Man by a nose to win the $500,000 Juvenile Sprint, giving Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas his record 19th Breeders' Cup victory with the 15-1 shot.

Hightail and Merit Man raced neck-and-neck to the wire, with Hightail sticking his nose in front at the finish. The 2-year-old colt had never won in eight previous races, and he survived a stewards' inquiry to win Friday on opening day of the world championships at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Rajiv Maragh, Hightail paid $32.80, $7.20 and $3.40. Merit Man returned $2.40 and $2.10, while Sweet Shirley Mae paid $2.40 to show. Hightail ran 6 furlongs in 1:09.75.

The field was reduced to five after Super Ninety Nine and South Floyd were scratched because of left front leg issues.