While some of the top sprinters on the East Coast will be facing off in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga, the best of the West will be on display Saturday in the Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar, a Grade 1 test that offers a free guaranteed spot in the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint. A full field of 12 was entered for a race that promises to blend speed, excitement, and some excellent betting opportunities.

1. Hoist the Gold (15-1 morning-line odds): Heads west off some sharp East Coast form, including a second to Cody’s Wish in the Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Ford. Should work out a good trip from the rail and looks like an interesting possibility in this field.

JOCKEY: Brian J. Hernandez Jr.; TRAINER: Dallas Stewart

2. Spirit of Makena (4-1): Seeks a fourth straight win and has climbed the ladder with wins in the allowance ranks, then a Grade 3 stakes, and most recently a Grade 2 stakes. Seems as ready as he’ll ever be for a Grade 1 assignment and owns a win on this racetrack. Very much a major player here.

JOCKEY: Joe Bravo; TRAINER: George Papaprodromou

3. Todo Fino (20-1): Was a good third in the Smile Sprint Stakes off an 8 1/2-month layoff. Should move forward off that race but seems a cut below the top contenders.

JOCKEY: Edwin Maldonado; TRAINER: Amador Sanchez

4. The Chosen Vron (4-1): He owns seven straight stakes wins, but they were all in races restricted to California-breds. His last loss came when he took on Grade 2 competition last year in the Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar. He certainly has some ability but is he ready for top-level competition? We’ll find out here.

JOCKEY: Hector Berrios; TRAINER: Eric Kruljac

5. Kid Corleone (20-1): Posted a nice allowance win off an 8 1/2-month break and has enough speed to be a factor in the early stages, but the Cal-bred will be hard-pressed to be a factor in the final furlong.

JOCKEY: Tiago Pereira; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill

Get Her Number (Coady Photography)

6. Get Her Number (15-1): Probably wants more distance but he gets Hall of Famer Mike Smith in the saddle and that’s always a big plus in a Grade 1 stakes. If the pace is hot enough, he could make his presence felt in the stretch.

JOCKEY: Mike Smith; TRAINER: Peter Miller

7. Anarchist (4-1): Was a good second to Elite Power in the True North Stakes at Belmont Park and that’s him in a nut shell. In 10 starts, he’s been second six times. While that bodes well for using him in exactas and trifectas, a win bet at his expected odds seems like poor value.

JOCKEY: Ramon Vazquez; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill

8. C Z Rocket (12-1): Not sure what he was doing in a one-mile and 70-yard stakes last time, but six furlongs is his forte as shown by a second in last year’s Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The distance should bring out the best in the gallant 9-year-old gelding.

JOCKEY: Kent Desormeaux; TRAINER: Peter Miller

Sibelius (Ryan Thompson/Gulfstream Park)

9. Sibelius (6-1): Looked quite impressive in traveling to the Middle East and winning the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen for a third straight win. Disappointed with a distant fourth in a Churchill Downs stakes in his return to the United States, but the confidence his connections are showing in shipping him cross-country bodes well for a bounce-back effort here.

JOCKEY: Mario Gutierrez; TRAINER: Jeremiah O’Dwyer

10. American Theorem (8-1): Last year’s Bing Crosby winner showed little in his 2023 debut when fifth behind Kid Corleone and the 6-year-old will probably need another start to return to top form.

JOCKEY: Umberto Rispoli; TRAINER: George Papaprodromou

11. Dr. Schivel (7-2): Fizzled against Cody’s Wish in the Met Mile but loves it here at Del Mar and seems to be poised for a big effort that could produce an encore of his 2021 Bing Crosby win.

JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Mark Glatt

12. Peaceful Waters (20-1): Been away since April at Keeneland and has enough speed to make some noise early, but the outside post and the fact that this is his stakes debut weigh against him.

JOCKEY: Antonio Fresu; TRAINER: John Sadler

THE PICK: Sibelius

LIVE LONGSHOT: Hoist the Gold

SUPERFECTA: 9-11-2-1