Bingosblumi gets to avoid stablemate in Van Berg Derby

Bingosablumin gets the benefit of not having to face stablemate Bach’s Homebrew for a change when he heads a field of six 3-year-olds going a mile and 70 yards in the $10,000 Van Berg Derby at Columbus.
Bingosablumin has been running with his stablemate Bach’s Homebrew in his last four starts and has been second or third to that rival each time. On Saturday, Bingosablumin will be on his own and searching for his second win for trainer Larry Staroscik. Bach’s Homebrew, meanwhile, will likely be waiting for next weekend’s $15,000 Breeders’ Special.
Bingosablumin has run a pair of strong seconds to Bach’s Homebrew, including his last start on July 25 at Horsemen’s Park. In a change of tactics, Bingosablumin dropped well off the early pace of that one-mile race, then moved to the leaders going to the far turn. He followed his stablemate home 1 1/4 lengths back while more than five lengths clear of his next rival. That strategy could prove useful here as Bingosablumin’s two main threats both stretch out off sprint efforts near the lead.
Honkytonk Stomp, part of an uncoupled entry for trainer Dudley Graham, comes into this race off a strong 6 3/4-length win in the six-furlong Hall of Fame Stakes locally on Aug. 7. Honkytonk Stomp will be making his first start at a distance of ground after winning three of his five starts this year. Graham will also send out Byars So Cool, also owned by Henry Witt Jr., with special permission to uncouple the entry.
Steve’s Big Moe, trained by Kelli Martinez, ran his biggest race of the season when third against unconditioned allowance 3-year-olds at Horsemen’s Park on July 24. He vied on the lead for a half-mile, then reluctantly yielded to be beaten two lengths that day. In his two tries at a route this year, he was badly beaten but should be part of a lively early pace in this spot.