Cindy's Horse Racing Website Index

2024 Bing Crosby Stakes San Diego Handicap Day


The Chosen Vron and jockey Hector Berrios after winning the 2024 Bing Crosby Stakes.
Date: 07/27/2024

The feature race on the second Saturday of the Del Mar summer meet was the $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) for older horses sprinting 6 furlongs on the main track, a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event for the Breeders' Cup Sprint to be run at Del Mar on November 2. Conditions were unusually cool for late July at the seaside oval with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the high 60's for the 12,909 fans in attendance. After 2 scratches, last year's winner The Chosen Vron was sent off as the 3-2 favorite in the field of 7 off a 5 race winning streak including the San Carlos (G3), Kona Gold, and Thor's Echo Stakes. In to challenge him included 11-4 second choice Jackstown, making his stakes debut after winning his first 2 starts, and 3-1 third choice Closethegame Sugar, winner of the Aristides and the Kelly's Landing Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Down the stretch in the Bing Crosby Stakes.

Jockey Kazushi Kimura sent 10-1 Anarchist to the lead out of the chute through an opening quarter of 22.73 before The Chosen Vron took over on the turn through a half in 45.36. Turning for home The Chosen Vron opened up a 1 1/2 length lead on Closethegame Sugar through 5f in 57.06. Kept to task by Hector Berrios, The Chosen Vron drew off to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:08.99. It was another 1/2 length back from Closethegame Sugar to late-running Jackstown third.

Pgm  Horse                Jockey        Win  Place  Show
 8   The Chosen Vron    Berrios        5.00   2.80  2.10
 6   Closethegame Sugar Rispoli               3.20  2.80
 9   Jackstown          Hernandez                   3.00

Winning Time:  1:08.99

$1 Exacta 8-6                 7.10
$2 Quinella 6-8               9.60
$0.50 Trifecta 8-6-9         12.20
$0.10 Superfecta 8-6-9-2     16.37
Results Chart

Left: The Chosen Vron in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Eric Kruljac said, "I didn't say anything to Hector, I have that much faith in him. I expected Baffert's horse to go hard but he didn't go that hard and the other speed didn't. (Berrios) got out and had him in the thick of it. When it was time to move his hands, the rest was history. The other horses tried to keep up with him. He just wouldn't let them. It's one of his best races."

Right: The Chosen Vron heads back to the barn. Winning jockey Hector Berrios said, "He was marvelous, really comfortable on the outside. From the three eights (pole) I let him go and he went himself. It's a Grade 1; you don't always win these; it pays to have a good a healthy horse. I hope he continues for Breeder's Cup."

Left: Second place finisher Closethegame Sugar in the paddock before the race. Trainer Adam Rice said, "We'll see how he does when we go back East."

Right: Third place finisher Jackstown in the paddock before the race. The Bob Baffert trainee improved his record to 2 wins and 1 third in 3 starts, earning $129,000 for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.



Dr. Venkman wins the San Diego Handicap

The $300,000 San Diego Handicap (G2) featured a short field of just 5 older horses (after Hollywood Gold Cup 4th place finisher Subsanador scratched) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track in the main local prep for the Pacific Classic. Arabian Knight was sent off as the 2-5 favorite, unraced since finishing 4th in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) after winning last year's Pacific Classic (G1). In to challenge him included 3-1 second choice Dr. Venkman, second in the Triple Bend (G2) last out, and 13-2 third choice Express Train.

Jockey Juan Hernandez sent Arabian Knight to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.06 and 46.95 while pressed by Dr. Venkman and stalkedby 20-1 Katonah. On the far turn Arabian Knight tired allowing Dr. Venkman to inherit the lead through 3/4 in 1:11.09. Kept to task by Antonio Fresu, Dr. Venkman held off Katonah the rest of the way to win by a length in 1:43.36. It was a long 3 3/4 lengths back to Express Train third, and 1/2 a length more to favorite Arabian Knight fourth.

Results Chart

Left: Dr. Venkman in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Mark Glatt said, "You hope when you stretch a horse out, coming off a sprint, they will relax well. He relaxed beautifully. Antonio pushed the button at the right time. I was pretty confident around the quarter pole. I thought he had more horse than the pacesetter, then it was just the question of getting on by him. He kind of got to wandering a little bit in the stretch but he ran great."

Right: Dr. Venkman in the paddock. Winning jockey Antonio Fresu said, "He has speed, so the plan was to use it. The question was going to be if he could go this far (first time at two turns). We stayed close to the favorite, then on the turn we picked him up. When my horse made the lead, the waited. I switched sticks and hit him left handed and he responded. Good win for sure."

Left: Second place finisher Katonah in the paddock. Jockey Tiago Pereira said, "I'm so happy. He was good. It's a good race for the next step."

Right: Third place finisher Express Train in the post parade. The John Shirreffs trainee improved his record to 7 wins, 5 seconds, and 5 thirds in 22 starts, earning $1,491,800 for owner CRK Stable.


Fourth place finisher and beaten favorite Arabian Knight in the paddock. Jockey Juan Hernandez said, "No excuses for him today. We used his speed, of course, and I tried to open up with him but it just wasn't there. He probably needed the race."


Kicking off the Saturday stakes trip, a field of 8 older fillies and mares contested the $100,000 Daisycutter Handicap over 5 furlongs on the Jimmy Durante turf course. Jockey Juan Hernandez sent 10-1 Itzel to the lead through fractions of 22.34 and 44.82 while pressed by 2-1 second choice Stay and Scam and stalked by 9-2 third choice Connie Swingle. In the stretch Itzel tired as Connie Swingle with jockey Kyle Frey rallied by to win by 1 3/4 lengths over late-running 9-5 favorite Elm Drive in 56.42. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Stay and Scam third. Edwin Maldonado aboard 7th place finisher Runninwiththeboyz claimed foul against Mario Gutierrez aboard Stay and Scam for interference early in the race but the claim was disallowed.

Winning trainer Phil D'Amato said, "I think the five-eighths helped her. Kyle gave her a super ride. He had a good position. She's an old class horse and a stakes winner. (Owner-breeder) Nick (Alexander) is great with giving horses all the time they need. It was little things that caused her to need time off."

Results Chart

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