Sprinters will be in the spotlight Saturday at Del Mar as the $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes will focus attention on the West Coast’s fastest runners. A deep field of 10 will square off in the six-furlong, Grade 1 stakes that will award the winner a free, expenses-paid trip to the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November and should provide fans with a wide-open betting affair.
1. Desmond Doss (10-1 morning-line odds): Comes off two sharp stakes wins against state-bred company. He’s taking a jump in class but his speed figures are competitive and a rail trip should help his chances.
JOCKEY: Florent Geroux; TRAINER: Steven Miyadi
2. Shaaz (7-2): He returns to Baffert’s barn after running third in the Steve Sexton Mile Stakes. He’s best at sprint distances and is working in a manner that says he’s primed for a big effort.
JOCKEY: Juan J. Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
3. Bagboss (8-1): Comes off a pair of quick wins at Churchill Downs that paint him as a contender. The trouble is that this is his first start in a stakes … and Grade 1 company can be quite formidable.
JOCKEY: Umberto Rispoli; TRAINER: Brendan Walsh
4. Drain the Clock (4-1): He has extensive stakes experience and some noteworthy success stories. He was a Grade 1 winner last year at 3 and had a legitimate excuse when he was fourth last time out in the Smile Sprint Invitational Stakes as his head was turned at the start. Don’t be surprised if he turns heads in a different manner here.
JOCKEY: Drayden Van Dyke; TRAINER: Saffie Joseph Jr.
5. Principe Carlo (6-1): Comes off a great effort when he lost by a nose in the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes back in late May. Was second in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes Presented by FanDuel before that. He’s been away for a few months, but at his best he’ll be a huge threat here.
JOCKEY: Victor Espinoza; TRAINER: Librado Barocio
6. Howbeit (20-1): Was sixth last year in the seven-furlong Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar, then returned 10 months later in an ungraded stakes but stumbled and lost his rider. Hard to imagine he’ll be ready for a good showing off such a limited recent body of work.
JOCKEY: Abel Cedillo; TRAINER: Mark Glatt
7. Letsgetlucky (6-1): Was given a break after a busy winter and early spring that was capped by a second in Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park. Some top-level horses have come out of that stakes and off that alone, he’s worth a look.
JOCKEY: Tyler Baze; TRAINER: Brian Koriner
8. Diamond Oops (12-1): The 7-year-old gelding keeps bringing home minor checks, so you can’t toss him out. But two fourths and a fifth in his last three tries in Grade 2 company indicate that his best days are probably behind him at this level.
JOCKEY: Ryan Curatolo; TRAINER: Patrick Biancone
9. American Theorem (4-1): He dueled with Principe Carlo in the stretch of the Triple Bend and prevailed by a nose. He was 13-1 that day and it might be hard to duplicate that effort, but his performance in that May stakes was too good to ignore.
JOCKEY: Joe Bravo; TRAINER: George Papaprodromou
10. Get Her Number (12-1): A Grade 1 winner around two turns at 2, he was cut back to sprints for his last two starts. He rallied to win by a neck at seven furlongs last time, so you have to wonder if six furlongs may be too short for him.
JOCKEY: Ramon Vazquez; TRAINER: Peter Miller
THE PICK: Drain the Clock
LIVE LONGSHOT: Desmond Doss
SUPERFECTA: 4-2-5-7
Daily Double
5-9
5-9
$278
Superfecta
9-10-7-2
9-10-7-2
$157
Trifecta
9-10-7
9-10-7
$154
Daily Double
5-9
5-9
$278
Superfecta
9-10-7-2
9-10-7-2
$157
Trifecta
9-10-7
9-10-7
$154
