Morplay Reveals Shisospicy Plans For 2026

[Wandering Eyes]

Morplay Racing LLC's 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Shisospicy (Mitole), who beat the boys in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and is a finalist in no fewer than three Eclipse Award categories, will begin her 4-year-old campaign in the Middle East before following a similar course to the Breeders' Cup as in 2025. The news was revealed by Morplay's Rich Mendez and trainer Jose D'Angelo on FanDuel TV midday Thursday.

D'Angelo is set to be represented for the second straight season in the G2 1351 Turf Sprint on the Saudi Cup undercard at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Feb. 14. Howard Wolowitz contested the same event in 2025, finishing 10th.

All things equal, Shisospicy would press on to Dubai for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint over the straight 1200 meters at Meydan Racecourse Mar. 28. The Al Quoz is one of five elite-level events on the Dubai World Cup program and the D'Angelo stable could also be represented by GI Breeders' Cup Sprint hero and fellow Eclipse finalist Bentornato (Valiant Minister) in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen.

The back end of 2026 could look similar to 2025, according to connections. Mendez and D'Angelo indicated the filly could make a return to Kentucky Downs, where last year she took out the GII Music City Stakes en route to the Turf Sprint. As that is an age-restricted affair, Shisospicy has the GII Kentucky Turf Sprint Stakes against the boys over six furlongs or the GII Ladies' Turf Sprint at 6 1/2 panels as options. The 2026 Breeders' Cup will be held at Keeneland.

“She had a huge year last year, beat the boys as a 3-year-old,” D'Angelo said on FanDuel TV. “The way she's training, I feel she can compete at this level.”

Shisospicy is five-for-six on the grass, her only defeat coming when down the field in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last June.

Following her victory at Del Mar, achieved in partnership with Qatar Racing, Shisospicy went through the ring at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, where Morplay bought out their partners on a bid of $5.2 million. The gray returned to the worktab in late December, most recently going three-eighths of a mile in a bullet :36.30 (1/11) at Palm Meadows on Dec. 31.

Though clearly biased, Mendez is confident his filly could lock horns with the horse most consider the world's best turf sprinter, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}).

“The money makes a difference. For the competition, the better opportunity for her is out there, show the world,” Mendez said. “Some people say she wasn't fast, but I'd love to see a match race between her and Ka Ying Rising.”

Shisospicy would depart for Riyadh on a direct flight departing Feb. 2.

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