Englishman powered to his second straight dominant victory in a Grade 1 sprint race when he made easy work of four opponents by 3 ¾ lengths in the $485,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes Aug. 29 at Saratoga Race Course.

The 3-year-old Maxfield colt will target the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint Oct. 31 at Keeneland Race Course, and projects to be the favorite for the three-quarter-mile race.

Accomplishments: Englishman’s lone defeat in five career starts was a second-place finish when stretching out in distance to one mile for the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by SAP on the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve undercard at Churchill Downs.

Seeing how far Englishman could carry his speed was worth exploring after he romped by 7 ¼ lengths in his career debut in September 2025 at Churchill and rolled by 7 ½ lengths in his 3-year-old bow in March 2026 at Fair Grounds.

After the Pat Day Mile second, Englishman returned to sprinting for trainer Cherie DeVaux. The bay colt tied a track record (1:20.40) for seven furlongs while winning the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun June 6 and nearly matched that time when swamping the competition in the H. Allen Jerkens. He completed seven-eighths of a mile in 1:20.71 under regular rider Jose Ortiz while extending his advantage with a final quarter-mile in :23.69.

“It was another electrifying performance from [Englishman],” DeVaux said. “He’s been ultra consistent in his whole career, with the exception of stretching out to the [Pat Day Mile]. He’s an exciting horse. I would say I would be hard pressed to have another horse like him in my barn, ever. Again, ultra impressive.”

Speed Figures: The margins of victory and Englishman’s track record are impressive. So, too, are his speed figures. He earned a new career-best 120 Equibase Speed Figure for the Woody Stephens and a 118 for the H. Allen Jerkens. Englishman earned a 115 Beyer Speed Figure for the Woody Stephens and improved it two points to a new top of 117 Aug. 29. The numbers match the eye test ... dazzling.

Looking Ahead: DeVaux said Aug. 30 that Englishman very likely would train up to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, where he will attempt to become the first 3-year-old winner since Drefong in 2016 and the 10^th 3-year-old ever to win the prestigious race.

Englishman wins Woody Stephens Stakes (Eclipse Sportswire)

Englishman has elite early speed and breaks incredibly well out of the starting gate. He has led from start to finish in three of his four wins and showed he could rate just off the pace when he tracked from second in the Woody Stephens. That combination of burst from the gate and high-cruising speed is potent to say the least.

“He breaks so fast and clears the field, and it’s hard for anyone to get up there and challenge him, and I think that’s the key,” DeVaux said. “Jose has been key in developing him, especially in his races, because training, he’s so straightforward. Jose has done a great job with him, just developing him to be an elite-level horse.”

You could make a very strong case that Englishman is the fastest dirt horse in training in the world, so yes, I’m buying Englishman stock for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He looks like a beast.