Bing Crosby Stakes Quick Picks
Saturday’s $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar drew a deep, talented field of nine sprinters who will race six furlongs. In addition, a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, which will be held at Del Mar on November 6, is up for grabs.
#3 C Z Rocket (5-2)
C Z Rocket looks like the one to beat. He’s won or placed in every start since being claimed by Peter Miller last April. Since then, C Z Rocket has risen from $40,000 claimer to graded stakes winner, and he placed second to Whitmore in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint. C Z Rocket cuts back to six furlongs after placing third in the Steve Sexton Mile (G3). He’s hit the board in six of eight tries at the distance. Win contender.
#9 Brickyard Ride (7-2)
Brickyard Ride is a seriously fast horse. He loves to play catch-me-if-you-can on the front end and sets blistering fractions. The Craig Lewis trainee has won five of eight starts at six furlongs, including his last race, the Thors Echo, by 4 3/4-lengths in June. He’s stepping up in class, but if they leave him alone on the front end, he’ll be gone. Win contender.
#8 Dr. Schivel (7-2)
Dr. Schivel was sidelined after winning the Del Mar Futurity (G1) last September and missed this year’s Triple Crown hoopla. However, the Mark Glatt trainee shook off the rust last month in an optional claimer, winning the six-furlong event by a neck. His performance earned a gaudy 101 Brisnet speed figure, so the question is whether he’ll improve or regress off of that score. Exotics.
#6 Collusion Illusion (4-1)
Collusion Illusion returns to defend his Bing Crosby title, but he may be up against it since he hasn’t competed since last December. The Mark Glatt trainee was beaten twice by C Z Rocket last year. On the plus side, Collusion Illusion loves Del Mar and is undefeated in three starts here. He’ll sit off the pace and come running in the stretch. Exotics.
#2 Vertical Threat (8-1)
Vertical Threat finished off the board only twice in his career; neither start was at his preferred six furlongs. The lightly raced Baltas trainee is undefeated at the Bing Crosby distance and won his sole start at Del Mar. Vertical Threat is jumping into a salty Grade 1, and he’ll have plenty of company on the front end. Exotics.
#4 Law Abidin Citizen (12-1)
Law Abidin Citizen was third in last year’s Bing Crosby. He seldom wins, but the 7-year-old is consistently in the money. He’s finished third in three of four starts at Del Mar. The Mark Glatt trainee is making his third start off the layoff, and his speed figures are improving. Law Abidin Citizen has tactical speed and can settle near the pace. Exotics.
#5 Quick Tempo (12-1)
Quick Tempo ships in from Prairie Meadows, where he finished second in the Iowa Sprint behind Special Reserve. That one is a leading contender for the Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga. Quick Tempo will keep Brickyard Ride honest on the front end, and the pair could hook up in a speed duel. The Christopher Davis trainee finished off the board only once in his career, in a turf sprint. Quick Tempo is jumping up in class, and his speed figures are lower than the best horses. Toss.
#1 Shooters Shoot (15-1)
Shooters Shoot was last seen finishing second in the Triple Bend (G2) in May. He’s hit or miss off a long layoff and has never won at six furlongs or at Del Mar. Toss.
#7 Eight Rings (10-1)
Eight Rings hasn’t earned a paycheck since his dominating six-length victory in the American Pharoah Stakes in 2019. The Bob Baffert trainee has a spotty record this year and may have physical issues. Either way, he hasn’t lived up to his $520,000 auction price, and doesn’t belong in this race. Toss.
Saturday’s $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar drew a deep, talented field of nine sprinters who will race six furlongs.Analysis
Pacesetters dominate the main track sprints at Del Mar and have won the majority of sprints this meet. However, pressers do well and win their fair share.
Vertical Threat, Brickyard Ride, and Quick Tempo are confirmed front runners. C Z Rocket and Dr. Schivel have tactical speed and can sit off the expected hot pace.
#3 C Z Rocket (5-2)
#9 Brickyard Ride (7-2)
#8 Dr. Schivel (7-2)
#4 Law Abidin Citizen (12-1)
