How to Bet the Bing Crosby Stakes

Eight horses will go postward in Saturday’s $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar in hopes of gaining their first Grade 1 trophy. The six-furlong dash attracted a well-matched field as jockey Flavien Prat will aim to bring home the winner of the contest for the fifth year in succession. ANALYSIS Calexman, Cistron and Jalen Journey will all view for the early edge, with Chief Cicatrix and Recruiting Ready in close attendance early on. The latter appears to be the class of the field and I will key with him in my wagers. WAGERS $10 Exacta 7 with 6, 8 = $20 $2 Trifecta 7 with 6, 8 with all = $24 $1 Superfecta 7 with 6, 8 with 2, 5, 6, 8 with all = $30 Here is the group: CALEXMAN (#1) (15-1) – Vladimir Cerin pupil has good current form having finished first or second in three straight allowance races. Kentucky-bred son of Midshipman was a winner in a lone previous race on this surface but faces a tough assignment here. Speedy sort will be flying early under Geovanni Franco. DESERT LAW (#2) (12-1) – Thor’s E, cho Stakes romper ran a lifetime-best at Santa Anita Park in his second start at five. Carla Gaines trainee shows a pair of bullet morning drills in the interim and could be peaking in advance of his graded bow. Rafael Bejarano stays in the silks. CISTRON (#3) (5-2) – Rapid Grade 2 victor was run down late after being clear in the stretch in the Triple Bend Stakes (G2) at seven panels. Fleet son of The Factor has brilliant early speed and could come out firing under Victor Espinoza. LINE JUDGE (#4) (8-1) – Genius claim from the Peter Miller barn paid instant dividends when romping home in the Kelly’s Landing Stakes at Churchill Downs last out. Spring at Last five-year-old will be moving best of all in the lane with Drayden Van Dyke in the controls. AIR STRIKE (#5) (4-1) – Triple Bend (G2) upsetter broke his maiden in impressive fashion last summer in a lone local appearance at Del Mar. Phil D’Amato trainee cuts back to six furlongs for the first time since his debut offering last year, and his best work will be done late with Norberto Arroyo Jr. CHIEF CICATRIX (#6) (12-1) – Crack sprinter is a superb 10-for-15 lifetime and will look to add another graded win to his resume. Shawn Davis pupil is capable of running huge, and the son of Munnings could be any kind in his first run on this main surface. RECRUITING READY (#7) (2-1) – Grade 3 hero ran a big third when beaten by a half-length in the True North (G2) at Belmont Park in advance of his West Coast debut. Algorithms five-year-old zipped a bullet five-eighths leading up to this one and gets a prime post position outside much of the early speed. Flavien Prat is the king of the Bing Crosby recently, guiding home the winner in four straight seasons, and he has the call. JALEN JOURNEY (#8) (6-1) – $510,000 purchase fell just shy in the Smile Sprint (G3) in a most recent offering prior to the barn change. Swift son of With Distinction makes a first run for Peter Miller and comes into this with a nice local move for a top sprint barn. Mike Smith will be in the stirrups atop the lightly raced contender. PHOTO: Recruiting Ready (c) Adam Coglianese Photography