Bing Crosby Stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

Collusion Illusion, Fashionably Fast Top ‘Win And You’re In’ Bing Crosby

The 3-year-old Collusion Illusion and the 5-year-old Fashionably Fast lead a nine-horse field of talented sprinters in Saturday's 6-furlong, $250,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) on NBCSN, with live coverage from Del Mar beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The Bing Crosby winner will receive an automatic berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The three-hour program, in association with TVG, marks the fifth telecast this year in the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of North America's most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 37th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., scheduled for Nov. 6-7 on NBC and NBCSN. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here.

Commentary and discussion for the telecast will be anchored by TVG's Todd Schrupp and Simon Bray. Post time for the Bing Crosby is 9:30 p.m. ET.

Collusion Illusion, trained by Mark Glatt and ridden by Flavien Prat, has won four of five starts, but will be challenging older horses for the first time. He comes into the Bing Crosby off an excellent performance in the 6 ½-furlong Lazaro Barrera Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park on June 20, winning by 3 ¼ lengths. Owned by Dan Agnew, Rodney Orr, Jerry Schneider and John Xitco, Collusion Illusion won both his starts at Del Mar last year, breaking his maiden at 5 furlongs in July, and following up that performance with a win in the Best Pal Stakes (G2).

Collusion Illusion made his next start in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park on Sept. 27, and was pulled up in the stretch. After a nearly eight-month layoff, he returned in May for his 3-year-old debut with a sharp 3-length win in a 6-furlong allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita.

California-bred Fashionably Fast, trained by Dean Pederson and ridden by Tiago Pereira, won six consecutive races dating back to July of last year, including three at Del Mar, before stepping into graded stakes company in the 7-furlong Triple Bend (G2) at Santa Anita on June 7. He put up a tough battle against top older horse McKinzie into the stretch, but finished second by 1 ½ lengths.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert entered McKinzie in the Bing Crosby, but said Wednesday that he would be scratched.

Prior to the Triple Bend, Fashionably Fast opened this year winning the California Cup Sprint Stakes and the Tiznow Stakes at Santa Anita.

A challenge from Kentucky comes from Calumet Farm's 4-year-old Lexitonian, who is being shipped to California following a scratch at the gate in last Saturday's Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. A chestnut son of 2004 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Speightstown, Lexitonian, trained by Jack Sisterson and ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, finished third by less than a length in last October's Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. After a 10th-place finish in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn in April, Lexitonian rebounded with a solid win in a 7-furlong allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs on May 29.

Harris Farm's 6-year-old gelding Desert Law fought Cistron down the stretch in last year's Bing Crosby Stakes, finishing second by a half-length. A California-bred son of Desert Code, trained by Carla Gaines, Desert Law made his first start of this year in the 6-furlong Thor's Echo Stakes on June 13 at Santa Anita, finishing third as the even-money favorite. Desert Law will be ridden by Victor Espinoza.

W.C. Racing's 4-year-old gelding Wildman Jack, winner of four of nine starts, will make his dirt track debut on Saturday. Trained by Doug O'Neill, Wildman Jack, a bay son of two-time Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Goldencents, made his biggest career score on March 7 when he captured the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint (G3) in stakes-record time at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. He was scheduled to make his next start in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) at Meydan but the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. He returned to the U.S. and won the Daytona Stakes (G3) on the turf at Santa Anita on May 23 by a nose over Sparky Ville. However, in his most recent start, he trailed the field in the Shakertown Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on July 11.

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Baffert Doesn’t Like Inside Post, Will Scratch McKinzie From Saturday’s Bing Crosby

McKinzie will not run in this Saturday's Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar, trainer Bob Baffert told the Daily Racing Form on Wednesday. The 5-year-old son of Street Sense drew post four of ten in the six-furlong sprint contest, and Baffert doesn't believe the horse will be able to make his best effort from that spot.

“If I had an outside post, I was going to take a chance at it,” Baffert told drf.com. “But he's down in the four-hole, and this track's been playing weird. It's real loose and deep. A horse like him wouldn't have a chance.”

Instead, Baffert plans to wait for the G2 Pat O'Brien over seven furlongs on Aug. 29. Though the “Win and You're In” race offers a berth to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Baffert's long-term goal for McKinzie is still the Breeders' Cup Classic over 1 1/4 miles.

McKinzie Entered In Bing Crosby After Sharp Breeze At Del Mar

Post positions were drawn and fields were set Sunday for three stakes on an 11-race card next Saturday at Del Mar near San Diego, Calif.

The most surprising, and biggest development, was the entry of multiple graded stakes-winning McKinzie in the Grade 1, $250,000 Bing Crosby Stakes, a six-furlong main track run that often determines the top sprinter of the meeting.

Trainer Bob Baffert watched McKinzie zip through a five-furlong work in 1:00.80 Sunday morning before entering the 5-year-old son of Street Sense, a winner of seven graded stakes and more than $3.4 million, in the Crosby.

McKinzie, with graded stakes wins from 7 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles on his record, will be tasked at the shortest distance of his career. Owned by Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman and named for the late racing executive Brad McKinzie, the bay horse won his racing debut at seven furlongs at Los Alamitos on October 28, 2017. He notched a Grade 1 score at the same distance in the Malibu at Santa Anita on December 26, 2018 and a Grade 2 in the seven-furlong Triple Bend there in June.

Baffert doesn't expect cutting back by an eighth of a mile would be a problem.

“He's got speed. All good horses have speed,” Baffert said. “The only good horse of mine that couldn't run short was Real Quiet.” Real Quiet overcame his “shortcomings” by winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and very nearly the Belmont Stakes.

The field of 10 from the rail: Lexitonian (Drayden Van Dyke); Anyportinastorm (Juan Hernandez); Desert Law (Victor Espinoza); McKinzie (Mike Smith); P R Radio Star (Mario Gutierrez); Fashionably Fast (Tiago Pereira); Law Abidin Citizen (Abel Cedillo); Wildman Jack (Umberto Rispoli); Collusion Illusion (Flavien Prat), and Heartwood (Edwin Maldonado).

Also next Saturday, the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes, a Kentucky Derby points qualifier, has six signed up to go, featuring Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A.P.

The field from the rail: Uncle Chuck (Drayden Van Dyke); Thousand Words (Abel Cedillo); Anneau d'Or (Victor Espinoza); Kiss Today Goodbye (Umberto Rispoli); Honor A.P. (Mike Smith), and Cezanne (Flavien Prat).

On the undercard is the $100,000 CTBA Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies. It attracted seven fillies that have shown promise in one or two starts.

The field from the rail: Big Andy (Flavien Prat); Governor Goteven (Tiago Pereira); Reign of Fire (Drayden Van Dyke); Righteously (Mario Gutierrez); Jasmin Chieftain (Juan Hernandez); Love Wins (Abel Cedillo), and I'm So Anna (Ricardo Gonzalez).

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After Gate Scratch In Vanderbilt, Lexitonian Heading West For Bing Crosby

Calumet Farm's Lexitonian, trained by Jack Sisterson, was scratched at the gate of Saturday's Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., but was in good order Sunday morning breezing a half-mile under assistant trainer Mark O'Dwyer in 47.66 seconds on the main track.

Whitmore, assigned post 2 in the Vanderbilt, broke through the gate before the start of the race and was quickly pulled up by jockey Joel Rosario. Lexitonian, from the inside post, subsequently sat back on his haunches dislodging jockey Tyler Gaffalione and was scratched at the gate. The remainder of the four-horse field was backed out and reloaded with Volatile proving victorious.

“I think a horse's natural instinct when another horse breaks through the gate is to want to go after it,” said Sisterson. “He's such a competitive horse that when Whitmore broke through, he wasn't going to abide by Tyler. He wanted to go after that horse and that's just him.

“Mark was with him and looked at him at the barn after the race and the vet went over him and there were no issues,” added Sisterson. “Unfortunately, that's racing. You can't predict what's going to happen, but the main thing is he's okay.”

O'Dwyer said Lexitonian was in good order Sunday morning and moved comfortably during the swift half-mile breeze.

Lexitonian entered the Vanderbilt off a sharp optional-claiming win on May 29 at Churchill Downs that garnered a 95 Beyer Speed Figure. The Speightstown chestnut was expected to use Saturday's test as a springboard to the Grade 1, $300,000 Forego, presented by America's Best Racing, a seven-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up on August 29.

However, Sisterson said Lexitonian will now ship to Del Mar for a start in Saturday's Grade 1 Bing Crosby, a six-furlong sprint offering a berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

“He ran such a fast Ragozin number at Churchill, a career high, we thought with that much of a leap forward you don't want to run back too quick,” said Sisterson. “So, we penciled in the Vanderbilt and if he ran well we'd go to the Forego. We had the plan for months and it didn't happen and now he's full of energy and needs to run, so if he comes out of the breeze well this morning, he'll go to the Bing Crosby at Del Mar.”

Calumet Farm and John Anthony Stables' American Tattoo, who was nominated to Saturday's Grade 1 Whitney, will instead point to next Sunday's $100,000 Birdstone, a 1 ¾-mile stamina test for older horses at the Spa.

Previously trained by Todd Pletcher, the Birdstone will mark the 5-year-old son of Not For Sale's first start for Sisterson. A five-time winner from 11 starts, American Tattoo was a Group 1 winner in his native Argentina capturing the 2018 Polla de Potrillos. He finished third in last year's Grade 2 Marathon at 1 ¾-miles in November at Santa Anita and won the 10-furlong H. Allen Jerkens in December at Gulfstream Park.

“He's training great at the moment at Keeneland. We have a great facility, thanks to Calumet, where we can train them and allow them to be a horse at the same time,” said Sisterson. “He gets turned out in his paddock every day and he enjoys that. He's bought into our system and really blossomed and come around. He acts like a distance type of horse in his breezes, and he gets better as he hits the wire and gallops out. I think the mile and three-quarters will suit him. If he runs well there, we'd look at the Calumet Cup for him at Kentucky Downs [on September 7].”

Calumet Farm's Vexatious, a 6-year-old Giant's Causeway mare, posted a career-best 100 Beyer when second last out to Monomoy Girl in the Grade 2 Ruffian on July 11 at Belmont and is slated to make her next start in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign presented by NYRA Bets, offering a berth in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Vexatious ran second in the Grade 3 Modesty on the Arlington Park turf last July in just her second start for Sisterson and followed up with a brave second in the nine-furlong Summer Colony, defeated a neck to Blue Prize who exited that race to win the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland and the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita.

“She ran great in the Ruffian,” said Sisterson. “It was her third race off the layoff and typically, the way I train, they improve with racing. We leave a lot in the tank for them to improve and we thought she'd run a good race and she was second with a career high.

“In my opinion, she has the talent to be within a few lengths of any top filly in the country on her day,” added Sisterson. “Which she proved last summer finishing just a neck behind Blue Prize, who went on to the Breeders' Cup.”

Vexatious breezed a half-mile in 49.45 Saturday on the Saratoga main track with O'Dwyer in the irons.

“Mark knows her well and he called me after the work to say she feels as good as she has done going into any race she's run well in,” said Sisterson. “She's coming back in just two weeks [from the Ruffian], which is a concern, but I think she'll tell us when she's not doing well. She's held her coat well and eaten up, so she's telling us she's doing well.”

Sisterson said a prominent approach may be in the cards for Vexatious on Saturday.

“If it comes next week that Midnight Bisou scares people off and it's a short field with no speed in the race, I'd have no problem at all if Jose [Lezcano] wants to jump out and make all with her,” said Sisterson. “She's a true distance type of filly, but she can also run well at a one-turn mile and I wouldn't be afraid of jumping out and making all because of the distance because in my opinion she only gallops and stays. The further the better.”

Calumet Farm's Everfast, a closing second in last year's Preakness for former trainer Dale Romans, joined the Sisterson barn for his 4-year-old campaign. With blinkers on for all three starts this season, Everfast ran a good second in his seasonal debut on April 18 in an Oaklawn Park allowance and followed up with another strong second, defeated a half-length by Owendale, in the Blame traveling one mile on the Churchill Downs main.

Last out, Everfast was off-the-board in the Grade 1 Makers Mark Mile on the Keeneland turf on July 10.

Sisterson said the addition of blinkers have helped provide the former late-running Everfast a more prominent running style.

“He jumped and went forward in his race at Oaklawn and he was forward again in the Blame,” said Sisterson. “We gave him a shot in the Makers Mark Mile but he didn't handle the turf at all.”

Sisterson said the Take Charge Indy bay will make a return to dirt at Saratoga in an allowance sprint with an eye down the road to the Grade 1, $300,000 Forego presented by America's Best Racing at seven furlongs on August 29.

“He'll run seven eighths next Saturday at Saratoga,” said Sisterson. “That would be a prep for the Forego for him if all goes well.”

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