The first Grade 1 race of the Del Mar summer meet is set to go this Saturday when 12 of the track's fastest dirt runners compete in the G1 Bing Crosby, a “Win and You're In” challenge race for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Trainer George Papaprodromou will have a double-barrel attack when he sends out last year's winner, American Theorem, and arguably the current leader of the West Coast sprint division in Spirit of Makena.
American Theorem looked to be a rising star in the sprint division when he won back-to-back graded stakes in 2022; the G2 Triple Bend in June and the Bing Crosby in July. A runner-up finish to Laurel River in the G2 Pat O'Brien one month later did nothing to tarnish his image.
Papaprodromou trained American Theorem up to the Breeders' Cup and the son of American Pharoah ran a distant eighth. He was given the winter off and returned in June, on closing day at Santa Anita, and ran fifth and last in a second level allowance.
“He needed the race,” Papaprodromou says. “He was coming off of the layoff and he wasn't ready. I think it will help him this time.”
Papaprodromou says American Theorem is doing very well coming into Saturday's race, as is his stablemate Spirit of Makena, who has been nothing short of brilliant so far this year. The son of Ghostzapper opened with a victory in an entry level allowance at Santa Anita in February. He followed that with a stylish win in the G3 San Carlos in March and then stamped himself a Breeders' Cup contender with a win in the G2 Triple Bend.
As for running his star sprinters against each other, Papaprodromou has no problem.
“Hopefully, one of them wins,” he says. “May the best horse win. They both belong there.”
The Bing Crosby is the 10th of 11 races Saturday. Approximate post time is 6:30 p.m.
Here's the field from the rail with the jockeys and morning line odds:
- Hoist the Gold (Brian Hernandez Jr., 20-1);
- Spirit of Makena (Joe Bravo, 4-1);
- Todo Fino (Edwin Maldonado, 20-1);
- The Chosen Vron (Hector Berrios, 4-1);
- Kid Corleone (Tiago Pereira, 20-1);
- Get Her Number (Mike Smith, 15-1);
- Anarchist (Ramon Vasquez, 4-1);
- C Z Rocket (Kent Desormeaux, 12-1);
- Sibelius (Mario Guttierrez, 6-1);
- American Theorem (Umberto Rispoli, 8-1);
- Dr. Schivel (Juan Hernandez, 7/2) and
- Peaceful Waters (Antonio Fresu, 15-1).
The post ‘May The Best Horse Win’: Papaprodromou Doubles Up For Bing Crosby With American Theorem, Spirit Of Makena appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
