Rustin Kretz's American Theorem swooped widest and fastest of all Saturday in the 77th edition of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar Saturday and outran eight rivals to the wire in 1:08.67 for the six-panel headliner.
The husky gray son of Triple Crown hero American Pharoah was a length and a half to the good at the finish under veteran Joe Bravo. The rider dropped his stick turning for home as he swung six wide, but it didn't matter to his charge who just kept rolling around a wall of horses on the turn.
Finishing second was Gary Barber's Get Her Number and third was Brown, Klein or Lebherz's Letsgetlucky. Race favorite Shaaz, owned by Michael Lund Petersen, checked in fourth.
American Theorem is trained by George Papaprodromou, who was recording his first career Grade 1 victory.
The Crosby was a “Win and You're In” race meaning American Theorem now has a guaranteed spot with all fees paid in the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint, which will be held at Keeneland in November.
The Crosby carried a value of $402,000 and earned American Theorem a first-place prize of $240,000, increasing his career winnings to $531,967.
The ridgling had won Santa Anita's Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes on May 29 in his most recent start.
American Theorem paid $17.60, $7.80 and $5.00 across the board. Get Her Number returned $7.20 and $5.00 and Letsgetlucky paid $5.80 to show.
JOE BRAVO (American Theorem, winner) – “He just wanted to run. That's why I went. He was real comfortable on the backside, moving easy. And then when we came to the turn I didn't think I wanted to go six wide. But he just had his momentum up and we just kept on going. I got real nervous, though. I dropped my stick on the turn and that will make you nervous. But he didn't need it.”
GEORGE PAPAPRODROMOU (American Theorem, winner)– “The race turned out the way we planned and we made one run. We knew with the post we would have to go a little wide but it worked out perfect.”
FRACTIONS: :22.28 :44.99 :56.69 1:08.67
The stakes win was the first of the meet for rider Bravo and his first in the Bing Crosby. He now has seven stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Papaprodromou and his first in the Bing Crosby. It is his third stakes win at Del Mar.
The winning owner is Rustin Kretz of Las Vegas, Nev.
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