In a highly anticipated battle, American-bred runners Is That A Fact and Desert of Malibu are to face off for the first time in the $1.75-million None Such Sprint Trophy at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

The prestigious Graded Stakes/Open Allowance contest, set to go over six furlongs (1,200m), promises to be a riveting encounter between two exceptional horses.

Is That A Fact enters the race in scintillating form, boasting four wins and four second-place finishes from eight starts this season. His recent five-length victory on July 13, also over six furlongs, showcased his remarkable ability, and he is expected to perform well despite carrying top weight of 57.0kgs (126 lb).

His impressive training sessions, including a blistering 59.3 seconds for five furlongs (1,000m) with the first four furlongs (800m) coming in 46.2 on August 24, solidify his position as a strong contender. The Jason DaCosta trainee had also galloped five and a half furlongs (1,100m) in 1:06.0 with the last five furlongs (1,000m) coming in 1:00.0 on September 7.

Desert of Malibu, trained by Gary Subratie, returns to competitive racing after a five-month break, boasting an impressive record of seven wins from nine starts on local soil. Despite being disqualified twice with one reinstated, she has shown remarkable form. One of her victories came over the same distance she is set to run this afternoon.

Her training sessions, including a sharp 1:14.0 for six furlongs on September 1, indicate she is poised to make a big statement in her comeback race. Her last spin coming into this race when she galloped 1:07.0 for five and half furlongs, with the last five furlongs coming in 1:01.2, is also an indication that she is fit.

The race is positioned as the seventh event on the nine-race card with a post time of 4:00 pm. First race is at high noon.

While Is That A Fact and Desert of Malibu are expected to be the top contenders in the None Such Sprint Trophy, American-bred horses Wall Street Trader and Madelyn’s Sunshine could also play a significant role in the outcome.

Wall Street Trader, a consistent performer, boasts an impressive record of three wins and two second-place finishes from six starts on local soil. Although this is his toughest assignment yet, he is expected to perform well without winning.

Madelyn’s Sunshine, stable companion to Is That A Fact, showed promise in her last outing on August 10, finishing fourth behind Mahogany over seven furlongs. With the reduced distance, she is expected to make her presence felt in the race, making her a dark horse contender.

The remaining horses in the line-up, Inspire Force, Justin Biden, and Fearless Soul, face an uphill battle, lacking the experience and form to challenge the top runners. However, in horse racing, anything can happen, and an upset is always possible.

The stage is set for an exciting showdown, with several horses having a legitimate chance to win. Will Is That A Fact’s top form prevail, or will Desert of Malibu’s comeback race be a triumphant one? Can Wall Street Trader or Madelyn’s Sunshine pull off an upset? The answers will be revealed this afternoon.

Ones to watch:

Race 1) High Diplomacy/Simba The Lion/Great Trick

Race 2) Zulu Warrior/Main Mistress/Hotbred Scammer

Race 3) Global Pursuit/Beautiful Sunset/Platinum Princess

Race 4) AKA Storm/Legal Bomb/Another Wave

Race 5) Teflon Don/El Rapido/Unbelievable

Race 6) Absolute Blue/Noble Impulse/Just An Illusion

Race 7) Is That A Fact/Desert of Malibu/Madelyn’s Sunshine

Race 8) Awesome Anthony/Benson/Huntsman

Race 9) Sweet Bern/Princess Catelya/Blood Moon