The GI Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar, a ‘Win and You’re In’ for the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint, didn’t lack for drama Saturday as Listenupshance (g, 4, Shancelot–Listenupnow, by Hard Spun) outnosed Maximum Bourbon (Maximum Security) to score the first black-type win of his career.
The race was marred when heavy favorite and ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ Cornucopian (Into Mischief) went wrong and was pulled up at the top of the stretch and eased.
It was Mad House (Vekoma) who was best out of the gate, showing the way through a :21.88 first quarter as Listenupshance tracked in second with Maximum Bourbon and Cornucopian a joint third. Listenupshance wrested control at the top of the lane while on his wrong lead just as Cornucopian was pulled up, then set sail for home before holding off a stiff challenge from Maximum Bourbon by a nose at the wire. Moonlight (Audible), who had trailed the field by a half dozen or more lengths early, closed for third.
Listenupshance, now a perfect three for three over the Del Mar dirt, got the Bing Crosby’s six furlongs in 1:09.33. He was off at odds of 5-1.
The Bob Baffert-trained Cornucopian, a last-out winner of the GIII Aristides S. at Churchill Downs May 30, was vanned off and is under further evaluation by a team of veterinarians.
Listenupshance’s two previous graded tries resulted in a second in the GIII San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita in March and a fantastic last-out third behind Book’em Danno (Bucchero) and Bentornato (Valiant Minister) in the GIII True North Stakes at Saratoga June 6.
After acting up in the gate and completely missing the break last time, he rushed up and dueled with last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner through wicked splits and stayed on gamely just missing second by a nose.
“(Jockey) Emisael (Jaramillo) did such a great job of getting a clean break,” winning trainer Doug O’Neill said. “He was laying in a perfect spot but then I saw :21 and change and I thought maybe they’re both in trouble. I just knew this horse was a warrior. I knew if he was anywhere near at the head of the lane he’d be near at the wire. I’m just over the moon.”
Pedigree Notes:
GII Amsterdam Stakes winner and GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up Shancelot, retired to Buck Pond Farm for the 2021 season and last reported to be standing at that same location, gets a Grade I winner for his first black-type winner. The Shanghai Bobby stallion, who has three small crops at the races, has just 19 reported 2-year-olds this year.
Bred by Al and Michelle Crawford Racing, Listenupshance is out of a half-sister to 2017 GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes winner La Coronel (Colonel John). Listenupnow, dam of the Bing Crosby winner, has a 2-year-old filly by Galilean–a $4,500 Green Valley Farm buy at last fall’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Yearling Sale–and was bred back to Shancelot for 2027.
Saturday, Del Mar
BING CROSBY S.-GI, $401,500, Del Mar, 7-25, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.33, ft.
1–LISTENUPSHANCE, 122, g, 4, by Shancelot
1st Dam: Listenupnow, by Hard Spun
2nd Dam: Listen, by Chester House
3rd Dam: Listen Now, by Storm Bird
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST
GRADE I WIN. ($10,000 Ylg ’23 FTKOCT). O-Great Friends
Stables and Run Fast Racing; B-Al and Michelle Crawford
Racing (KY); T-Doug F. O’Neill; J-Emisael Jaramillo. $240,000.
Lifetime Record: 13-4-3-3, $438,570. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free
Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Maximum Bourbon, 122, g, 4, Maximum Security–
Unbridled Reward, by Warrior’s Reward. 1ST GRADED
BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($90,000 Ylg ’23 FTKJUL;
$400,000 4yo ’26 FTDMAR). O-Agave Racing Stable, Rockin
Robin Racing Stables and Evan Trommer; B-Nicholas M. Lotz
& Mr. & Mrs. Troy Reed (KY); T-Philip D’Amato. $80,000.
3–Moonlight, 122, h, 5, Audible–Sundown, by Tapit. 1ST G1
BLACK TYPE. ($235,000 RNA Ylg ’22 FTSAUG; $170,000 Ylg
’22 FTKOCT; $285,000 2yo ’23 OBSAPR; $90,000 3yo ’24
FTDAUG; $250,000 5yo ’26 FTKHRA). O-Tom Kagele; B-Peter
Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Peter Miller. $48,000.
Margins: NO, 1HF, 1. Odds: 5.90, 3.70, 47.30.
Also Ran: Mad House, Dr. Venkman, Stronghold, Gold Sweep, Cornucopian. Scratched: For All Mankind. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
