MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — With two furlongs remaining, Benny the Bull trailed most of the field, which isn't exactly a recipe for success in a sprint.

Jockey Edgar Prado wasn't worried.

Neither was owner Michael Iavarone.

And back in New York, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. probably oozed confidence as well.

Their collective confidence was justified, because Benny the Bull did what he usually does, close with a flourish. The 5-year-old passed six horses in the final quarter-mile to win the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder on Saturday, getting his fifth consecutive victory and — most importantly — earning an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Sprint field.

"I haven't seen a horse in racing that has a stronger last 100 yards," Iavarone said. "Even when he looks like he's helpless, he still has that acceleration in that last 100 yards."

Benny the Bull, who's owned and trained by the same connections that guided Big Brown to wins in the first two legs of this year's Triple Crown, put it on display Saturday in the highlight of Calder's Summit of Speed day.

Benny the Bull was on the rail, with a slew of traffic in front of him, as the pack neared the top of the stretch. Prado didn't see an opening, so he created one, angling Benny the Bull to the extreme outside. He was the widest horse on the track in the stretch and it didn't matter. He just sprinted past all challengers and beat How's Your Halo — a 50-1 longshot — by two lengths.

"He made his one big run," Dutrow said by telephone afterward. "That's what he was supposed to do."

Benny the Bull returned $4.60, $3.40 and $2.10 after covering the six furlongs in 1:11.41. How's Your Halo paid $32.20 and $9.60, and Rockerfeller paid $3 after finishing three lengths behind the winner.

Mistical Plan also earned a trip to the Breeders' Cup on Saturday, winning the six-furlong, Grade 1 Princess Rooney Handicap in an upset over even-money favorite Dream Rush. Mistical Plan, with Corey Nakatani aboard, won by nearly six lengths over Miraculous Miss and paid $18.20, $9.40 and $4.20.

Mistical Plan has been run over sprint and longer distances, but her connections might be settling now on the shorter outings — with good reason. The win assured her a spot in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint field.

"I think sprinting is going to wind up being her best game," Nakatani said.

Other stakes winners in the Summit of Speed included Golden Spikes (Grade 2 Carry Back Stakes, $4.60), unbeaten Indyanne (Grade 3 Azalea, paying $3.20 after a 9½-length romp), Additional Prayer (J J's Dream Stakes, $23.40) and juvenile Red Nation (Frank Gomez Memorial Stakes, $19.40).

But most eyes were on Benny the Bull.

Prado returned caked in dirt and the horse had it kicked all over his body, yet in the end, he found a way once again. His last loss was on a messy track in last year's Breeders' Cup, and Iavarone said he's anxious to get another shot at that elusive crown.

"He's just a special horse," said Iavarone, who'll have Benny the Bull next pointed to the Forego at Saratoga on Aug. 30.

And he's just another star in the IEAH stable. Iavarone still hasn't shaken the disappointment of what happened to Big Brown in the Belmont, when he was eased up and the Triple Crown was lost, but he's taking some consolation in successes that keep coming IEAH's way.

"I don't think there's anything that can close the scar of Belmont day," Iavarone said. "But since Belmont day, our stable has won the Suburban, we've won the American Oaks, we've won ... I've lost track. I think we've won three Grade 1's since the Belmont alone and the Smile Sprint. Fortunately, it takes a little bit of the sting out, but I think the mystery and the disappointment of the Belmont, as long as I'm in racing, that's something we'll never be able to overcome."