Lovesick Blues. (Benoit Photo)
Del Mar Press
DEL MAR, Calif.—Mia Familia Racing Stable’s longshot Lovesick Blues looped his field on the turn for home and went on to a length and three-quarters triumph in the 80th running of the Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes Saturday at Del Mar.
The 7-year-old grey gelding by Grazen scored the biggest victory of his career in the six-furlong feature, covering the distance in 1:08.74 under Giovanni Franco.
It was also the biggest victory of his career for his trainer/owner Librado Barocio. He’d never won a Grade I race before.
“When he broke, I said ‘great’ and we taught him how to close, so when Giovanni (Franco) was turning for home and circling them I knew he was running. I picked up my wife, I was going crazy. Man, what a miracle happened. My first Grade I,” commented Barocio.
The veteran runner – who was making his 41st start and registering his ninth tally — picked up a first prize of $240,000 from the gross purse of $402,000 to push his earnings to $770,000. He returned $39.20 to his backers in sun-splashed crowd.
“You know what, I always have complete confidence in this horse,” said Franco
“Turning from home he was doing it just like a morning workout; I was just waiting for the time to go. By the time he hit the stretch, he was all out. I have only been able to ride him in the grass races. And he excels well on the grass, but as far as working him on the main track he is always dragging me out there,”
“I told Librado (Barocio) you know, why not take a chance. As soon as I got back to work on horses in December, this was one of my first workers that I got on. He got me my first stakes win back. Now he got me a Grade I win, and I’m just thankful,” added Franco.
Finishing second in the sprint was pacesetter Hejazi, who is owned by Zedan Racing Stables. Running third, another length and a quarter back, was race favorite World Record, who races in the silks of WinStar Farm and BBN Racing.
The Crosby is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race in the Sprint Division. That means that Lovesick Blues has earned himself a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Sprint, which will be contest on November 1 at Del Mar this year.
Fractions were a fast opener of:21.78, :44.48, :56.37 with a final time of 1:08.74
The stakes win was the first of the meet for jockey Franco and his first in the Bing Crosby with eight stakes wins at Del Mar. With his first in the Bing Crosby Barocio now has two stakes wins at Del Mar.
The winning owners are the Mia Familia Racing Stable, headed by trainer Barocio.
In the race prior to the Crosby, Repole Stable’s Pushiness, the second choice in the five-panel grass test known as the Daisycutter Handicap, set all the fractions then held on – by a whisker – to take first prize in the $120,500 overnight stakes.
The 4-year-old bay filly by Kantharos turned back nine other fillies and mares to take down a first prize of $78,000 in the dash. She was ridden to the minute by Juan Hernandez and races out of the barn of trainer Mike McCarthy. She returned $6.60 to her backers for the score.
Finishing second was The Elkstone Group’s Uncorked, who had three-quarters of a length on California Racing Partners, Ciaglia Racing, et al’s Visually.
The victory was the fifth in 11 starts for Pushiness and increased her bankroll to $386,426.
Racing resumes at Del Mar Sunday with an 11-race card and a first post of 2 p.m.
