He can run fast early in top company and still have enough left to close powerfully. He's won from 6 furlongs to a mile on both coasts, taking 7 of 9 career starts and finishing out of the money only in his debut. He's called El Corredor, which in Spanish means "the runner." His name and his game are the same.

The 4-year-old son of Mr. Greeley gives trainer Bob Baffert an excellent chance to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint on Oct. 27 at Belmont Park. Six years ago, El Corredor's sire fell a neck short in the Sprint the last time the Cup came to Long Island. It would be no surprise if the offspring surpassed the stallion, and at reasonable odds. With defending Sprint champion Kona Gold and highly regarded rockets Caller One and Squirtle Squirt taking significant money, El Corredor could be 4-1 or 5-1. That's quite a tasty price on a horse whose only loss in his past eight races came against the 2000 Kentucky Derby winner, and Fusaichi Pegasus beat him by only three-quarters of a length.

El Corredor already has proven he can handle the deep, sandy surface at Belmont, where he ran second last fall to Fusaichi Pegasus before winning the NYRA Mile at Aqueduct. El Corredor's tactical speed and late kick could work out a good trip in the 6-furlong Sprint, where the early fractions project to be insanely fast.

Classy milers have done well in the Sprint, where the presence of many need-to-lead types often creates a pace meltdown. In the race that salutes the fastest of the fast, the winner often emerges late from midpack. El Corredor is 2-for-2 at three-quarters of a mile, although he hasn't tried it since August 2000. His Beyer Speed Figures are outstanding -- 114, 119, 112 and 114 in his last four races. He's coming in off a 55-day layoff, another positive for a Sprint winner's profile, and looking great in the mornings.

A brilliant 5-furlong, 58 2/5-second workout on Oct. 17 at Santa Anita prompted TVG analyst Frank Lyons to proclaim El Corredor as his top value bet for the Breeders' Cup. He was striding powerfully at the finish and looked well within himself. It was his third consecutive 5-furlong move of 58 2/5 or better. He's sitting on a big performance.

"He's got a great kick, and he's training very well," said Baffert, who won the 1992 Sprint at Gulfstream Park with longshot Thirty Slews. "Hopefully, he'll draw well and be in good position. Post position is so important in the Sprint. It's a very tough race, with a big field, and you have to have things go your way."

Don't be shocked if they do.