Handicapper's Corner: 2023 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1)

 Betting Opportunities Abound in Bing Crosby Stakes

By: Robert Marks, (@theyreinthegate)

Saturday at 6:39 pm Pacific time is the $400,000 Grade 1 Stakes for 3-year-olds and upwards at Beautiful Del Mar in California at a distance of 6 furlongs on the dirt track. Named in honor of famous crooner Bing Crosby--one of the Founders of Del Mar, and singer of the favorite refrain “Where the surf meets the Turf.”

 

 

 

 

Here is a look at your field.

First thing that pops out to me is the nice big field which will produce plenty of betting opportunities.  If you have been following Del Mar this year, you are aware of the big fields which leads to big payouts. This race is no exception. Here are horses we will be focusing on and betting:

Doug O’Neill is firing bullets at Del Mar so You have to look at his pair running.  They are Kid Corleone and Anarchist.  Anarchist goes off at 4-1 morning line odds. Anarchist ran 2^nd shipping to Belmont in the Grade 2 True North. This horse is super consistent, finishing 1^st or 2^nd in last seven races including the True North and 3 graded stakes leading into the True North. A must use in any exotics.

Peaceful Waters (20-1) for Trainer John Sadler is interesting.  Formerly trained by Al Stahl and now going in his 1^st outing for Sadler. Will be stepping up in class coming off an optional claimer race his last outing but did have an impressive 94 Beyer speed figure in that race, winning by a neck. Will be one of the early pace setters and we look for him to hold on for a top 3 finish. At 20-1 odds this could be a big score.

Dr Schivel at 7-2 has earned over a Million Dollars with 6 Graded Stakes races under his belt including a win in the Bing Crosby Stakes in 2021. He’s coming off of a 5th place finish in the True North but if he runs back to his Speed Figure highs, he’s arguably the fastest horse in this race.

Spirit of Makena (4-1) has won 3 straights, all at Santa Anita. Lightly raced with only 5 starts, he’s well rested (last raced 5/23) and trainer George Papaprodomou seems to have him primed for this race with several impressive workouts since the 5/23 outing.

 

Analysis

With a big field, we always like to bet on the Trifecta, hoping to get a longshot in the mix with 2 of the mid-range odds horses. It’s these types of races where a Trifecta payoff can be highly profitable.

We look for a super-hot pace with Spirit of Makena, Dr. Schivel and Peaceful Waters your early pacesetters and Anarchist getting the wire late for the win.

Bets: $100 dollar Budget

$50-win Anarchist

$2Trifecta Box: Anarchist, Peaceful Waters, Dr. Schivel, Spirit of Makena (total bet $48)

$2 place: Peaceful Waters