Cistron a front-running winner in Bing Crosby Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – More than anyone else here at Del Mar this summer, Victor Espinoza can testify to what a difference a year makes.

One year ago on July 27, Espinoza was in a local hospital with severe neck and spinal injuries that he had suffered in an accident while working a horse five days earlier. His chances of riding again were in doubt.

Yet he got back to action earlier this year, and on Saturday at Del Mar Espinoza won the meet’s first Grade 1 race, scoring a front-running victory aboard Cistron in the $300,702 Bing Crosby, a Win and You’re In toward the Breeders’ Cup Sprint later this year at Santa Anita.

“I hadn’t even thought about it until now,” Espinoza said when asked if he realized what he was doing a year ago on this date. “I was in the hospital, really messed up. You can’t predict. You can’t predict the future. Here I am a year later winning races.

“I never thought I would recover that quick. Always throughout my career I never give up.”

Espinoza said coming back from injuries that could have ended his career has made him appreciate winning all the more.

“Winning means more. I think sometimes you take things for granted,” he said. “Now, every day is a good day for me.”

Saturday was especially good. Espinoza got Cistron ($11.60) in gear leaving the gate from his inside draw and he never looked back. He set fractions of 22.10 seconds for the opening quarter, 45.16 seconds for the half, and 57.31 seconds for five furlongs en route to a final time of 1:09.95 for six furlongs on a fast track.

Cistron held off Desert Law to win by a half-length, with Jalen Journey another 2 1/4 lengths back in third. Air Strike was fourth, then came, in order, Line Judge, Recruiting Ready, and Chief Cicatriz. Calexman was scratched Saturday morning.

“The way were drawn we knew we’d have to go to the front,” said John Sadler, who trains Cistron for Kosta and Pete Hronis. Sadler and the Hronis brothers already have won three stakes the first nine days of the meet.

Cistron, 5, is by War Front. He had finished second, beaten a head by Air Strike, in the Grade 2 Triple Bend last time out at Santa Anita on May 25. He led from start to finish in the Grade 2 Kona Gold at Santa Anita on April 20.

The Bing Crosby marked the fifth win in 27 starts for Cistron.

The disappointment in the race was Recruiting Ready, who only beat one horse as the 8-5 favorite. He was sitting in an ideal spot heading into the far turn but had no punch.

“He stayed even,” said his rider, Flavien Prat. “I had a good trip, but when I asked him, he didn’t pick it up.”