Del Mar’s Bing Crosby Stakes Offers Direct Path to Breeders’ Cup Sprint

The upcoming Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar is set to be a pivotal event for sprinters, serving as a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint scheduled for Keeneland this fall. The 81st running of this Grade 1 race features a highly competitive field of nine horses, all of whom are stakes winners or have finished in the top three in stakes company. The six-furlong dirt dash carries a purse of $400,000 and is scheduled for July 25 with a post time of 6:30 PM Pacific.

Bob Baffert’s Cornucopian enters as the morning line favorite in a field that includes Maximum Bourbon, trained by Phil D’Amato and ridden by Joel Rosario. Maximum Bourbon comes off a dominant performance in the St. Matthews Stakes at Churchill Downs on April 30 and is listed at 7-2 odds. The competition also features Dr. Venkman, a Ghostzapper colt trained by Mark Glatt, who returns after a fourth-place finish in this event last year.

The race takes place at a venue operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated, which provides live racing, online wagering, and casino gaming across the United States. The company’s stock is currently trading up 1.96% on the day.

Last year’s edition saw a major upset when the California-bred Lovesick Blues won at 18-1 odds. With entrants like Listenupshance and For All Mankind looking to improve on their recent runner-up finishes, the stage is set for a contentious battle on the West Coast.

What to watch

• Race post time is set for July 25 at 6:30 PM Pacific.
• The winner secures an automatic spot in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
• Churchill Downs Incorporated continues to benefit from high-profile stakes races at its network of venues.

Source: original release