The best sprinters on the West Coast will gather at Del Mar Saturday for the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes. Aside from shares of the $400,000 purse, the field of nine will be battling for a free spot in the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint Oct. 31, putting the winner not on the Road to Morocco, but the Road to Keeneland.

1. Maximum Bourbon: Was an easy winner of a restricted stakes at Churchill Downs in fast time. Has been freshened since April. Faces graded stakes company for the first time and will be a threat if he can handle the class jump.

JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Phil D’Amato

2. Listenupshance: Was a very game third against division leaders Book’em Danno and Bentornato in the True North Stakes at Saratoga. Was 21.46-1 that day, but with a perfect 2-for-2 record at Del Mar shapes up as a major player.

JOCKEY: Emisael Jaramillo; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill

3. Dr. Venkman: Veteran 6-year-old likes this track with four wins in seven starts. Was fourth in last year’s race and was third in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Shipped to Kentucky for his lone 2026 start and was a tired sixth in the Grade 3 Bango Stakes. Should be much more of a factor back home in California.

JOCKEY: Umberto Rispoli; TRAINER: Mark Glatt

4. For All Mankind: Was second in a $100,000 stakes at Lone Star Park and will need significant improvement to be a factor in this field.

JOCKEY: Armando Ayuso; TRAINER: John Sadler

5. Stronghold: Won the 2024 Santa Anita Derby but has thrived at sprint distances. Won the Grade 3, seven-furlong Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita Park last time, but six furlongs may be a tad short for him.

JOCKEY: Antonio Fresu; TRAINER: Phil D’Amato

Cornucopian (Coady Media)

6. Cornucopian: Has three wins from four starts this year, two of them in Grade 3 stakes. Lone loss was a fifth in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Ford at seven furlongs. The shorter distance here and weaker field should suit him quite well.

JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

7. Gold Sweep: Was fourth, ahead of Dr. Venkman, in the Bango Stakes at Churchill Downs last time out. Before that, was third behind Cornucopian in the Grade 3 Aristides Stakes by 2 ½ lengths. Is a threat to land in the exotics but seems a bit slower than the top contenders.

JOCKEY: Mike Smith; TRAINER: John Haran

8. Mad House: Won a Grade 3 stakes at Oaklawn Park but then was fifth, beaten eight lengths, after setting the pace in the Aristides. Was last in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and looms a longshot here, though his jockey, Sonny Leon, won the 2022 Kentucky Derby with Rich Strike at 80.80-1 odds.

JOCKEY: Sonny Leon; TRAINER: David VanWinkle

9. Moonlight: Has never raced shorter than a mile in his career. Is an odd fit in a Grade 1 six-furlong stakes.

JOCKEY: Victor Espinoza; TRAINER: Peter Miller

THE PICK: Cornucopian

LIVE LONGSHOT: Gold Sweep

SUPERFECTA: 6-5-7-3