Saturday’s Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar has a superfecta of meaning for its starters: a $400,000 purse, a free Win and You’re In spot in the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint to the victor, a Grade 1 win and an important race over the track in advance of the World Championships at Del Mar. A field of nine accomplished sprinters are entered in this year’s test.

1. Crazy Mason (6-1 morning-line odds): Heads west after running third in the True North Stakes at Saratoga. Have to wonder how his late-running style will work at Del Mar.

JOCKEY: Christopher Elliott; TRAINER: Greg Sacco

2. Dr. Venkman (4-1): A major player back in a West Coast sprint, the kind of race he’s never been worse than second in. Was second to the very talented Nysos in the seven-furlong Triple Bend Stakes earlier this year.

JOCKEY: Antonio Fresu; TRAINER: Mark Glatt

3.Hejazi (7-2) Was a useful second last month while running for the first time since Jan. 2024. Was second in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes in 2023 so he has the talent to be a threat for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

4. Smooth Cruisein (20-1): Chased the pace and tired to finish a distant third in the Triple Bend. Should be helped by the shorter distance here.

JOCKEY: Kyle Frey; TRAINER: Karen Headley

5. World Record (3-1): East Coast-based runner has a nice turn of speed and should be well suited by the distance. Was recently second in the Grade 3 Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs and was a Grade 2 winner last year as a 3-year-old.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Rudolphe Brisset

6. Roll On Big Joe (6-1): Was scratched from last year’s Bing Crosby but heads into Saturday’s edition off a win in the Kelly’s Landing Stakes at Churchill Downs over Dr. Venkman. Has won four of his last five starts and will be a main threat here.

JOCKEY: Julien Leparoux; TRAINER: Robert Hess Jr.

Dr. Venkman (BENOIT photo)

7. Mbagnick (5-1): Was claimed last time for $80,000 out of a win in which he registered a triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure. Has the speed to be a factor but will be tested for class against Grade 1 company.

JOCKEY: Armando Ayuso; TRAINER: John Sadler

8. Spirit of Makena (20-1): Will try to rebound from a 22 ¾-length loss in the Triple Bend. This will be his third start since returning from an injury that sidelined him for a year and a half.

JOCKEY: Abel Cedillo; TRAINER: George Papaprodromou

9. Lovesick Blues (20-1): Has been running on turf but fared equally well on dirt. Seems a cut below these as he lacks a graded stakes win through 41 career starts.

JOCKEY: Geovanni Franco; TRAINER: Librado Barocio

THE PICK: Dr. Venkman

LIVE LONGSHOT: Roll On Big Joe

SUPERFECTA: 2-6-5-3