Collusion Illusion noses Lexitonian in Bing Crosby

DEL MAR, Calif. - Collusion Illusion was seventh in the first half of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday, positioned by jockey Flavien Prat behind a line of six runners zooming through a fast pace in the sprint.

The scenario gave Prat a chance to assess where to position Collusion Illusion entering the stretch. As the frontrunners began to separate, Prat moved Collusion Illusion to the inside. Fourth with a furlong remaining, Collusion Illusion closed well along the rail to reach the front in the final 50 yards.

The ground-saving move was the difference. Lexitonian, who was last of eight early, flew through the stretch with a wide rally to nearly catch Collusion Illusion, who prevailed by a nose.

“At the eighth pole, I thought I’d win easy and I saw that horse on the outside and I wasn’t sure,” Prat said.

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Sent off favored, Collusion Illusion ($5.80) ran six furlongs in 1:10.41, giving trainer Mark Glatt his first Grade 1 win.

“I got a little worried if he was going to find a place to go,” Glatt said of Prat’s trip. “He was able to and came through in the end.”

Collusion Illusion earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 93.

Victory in the $251,500 Bing Crosby was worth $150,000 for owners Dan Agnew, Rodney Orr, Jerry Schneider, and John Xitco and gave Collusion Illusion a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

Collusion Illusion was the only 3-year-old in the Bing Crosby field. The victory was the colt’s third win in as many starts this year, and fifth win in six starts in his career. By Twirling Candy, Collusion Illusion has earned $398,751.

Desert Law and the Glatt-trained Law Abidin Citizen were among the six runners within 1 1/2 lengths after an opening quarter-mile in 21.58 seconds.

Desert Law led into the turn, but Law Abidin Citizen held a narrow advantage after a half-mile in 44.73. Collusion Illusion trailed by 3 1/2 lengths after a quarter-mile and by a little less than three lengths with a quarter-mile remaining.

“It set up nice,” Prat said. “He broke well. He settled behind them.

“He took the dirt better than he usually does. I imagined they were going fast. It seems the track was better on the inside. I dropped in.”

Lexitonian, an 8-1 chance who was racing well wide at the wire, finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of 10-1 Law Abidin Citizen, who was followed by Wildman Jack, Heartwood, Fashionably Fast, Anyportinastorm, and Desert Law.

McKinzie, the morning-line favorite and a multiple Grade 1 winner, was withdrawn in favor of a start in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes here Aug. 29.

The runner-up finish by Lexitonian ended an eventful week. He was withdrawn from the Grade 2 Alfred Vanderbilt Stakes at Saratoga on July 25 after becoming upset in the gate. He was flown to California early in the week and nearly recorded an upset win.