Collusion Illusion, Dr. Schivel pointing to Bing Crosby Stakes

Last August, California trainer Mark Glatt won the first Grade 1 race of his career with the 3-year-old Collusion Illusion in the Bing Crosby Stakes for sprinters at Del Mar.

Collusion Illusion is on schedule for the same race this year at Del Mar on July 31, as is his 3-year-old stablemate Dr. Schivel, who won the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity last September.

In late June, Glatt mentioned the Grade 1 Allen Jerkens Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 28 as a late summer goal for Dr. Schivel, with a possible prep in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 1.

Glatt said Sunday that Dr. Schivel will remain in Southern California for his next start.

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Dr. Schivel won his 2021 debut in a six-furlong allowance race at Santa Anita on June 18 for owners Rancho Temescal and Red Baron’s Barn. The allowance race was Dr. Schivel’s first start for Glatt. The colt was trained by Luis Mendez through the 2020 Del Mar Futurity.

Collusion Illusion has not raced since a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, and has been in steady training for the last several weeks.

On Thursday, Collusion Illusion worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds at Santa Anita. A day later, Dr. Schivel worked three furlongs in 37 seconds, his first workout since the recent win.

The $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs is the leading sprint of the Del Mar meeting and has long-range significance. The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 6.

Last fall, Collusion Illusion finished 12th in the BC Sprint at Keeneland, and was later beaten five lengths by Charlatan in the Malibu Stakes. Owned by the partnership of Dan Agnew, Jerry Schneider, Rodney Orr, and the MyRacehorse.com syndicate, Collusion Illusion has won 5 of 9 starts and is undefeated in three career starts at Del Mar.

Glatt plans to start Whatmakessammyrun in the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf on July 16, opening day of the Del Mar summer meeting.

Whatmakessammyrun is unbeaten in two starts for Glatt, including the $81,650 Desert Code Stakes at six furlongs on turf at Santa Anita on June 6.