Del Mar: Amazombie stays under the radar for Bing Crosby

DEL MAR, Calif. – The time was slow, the track was dark, and Amazombie was well under the radar in an early-morning workout Wednesday at Del Mar. He may be under-noticed again Sunday as third horse in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby, a six-furlong stakes billed as a two-horse race between Smiling Tiger and Euroears.

It was before 5 a.m. when Amazombie worked a half-mile in 52.80 seconds.

“It was almost a two-minute lick,” trainer Bill Spawr said, adding the slow time was by design. “The track [condition] wasn’t really what I wanted, it was a little loose. I wanted to come back safe.”

The Bing Crosby might be the only start Amazombie makes this summer at Del Mar.

“The Ancient Title is a Win-and-You’re-In; that gives us two months,” said Spawr, referring to the Grade 1 stakes on Oct. 8 at Santa Anita.

Regular jockey Mike Smith will ride Amazombie; Rafael Bejarano picks up the mount on Euroears.

Spawr said Amazombie may have another blowout through the stretch Saturday morning. In the Bing Crosby, the 8-for-20 Amazombie will try to bounce back from a subpar third-place finish as the Grade 1 Triple Bend favorite July 2 at Hollywood.

“I’m just going to throw it out, it was one of those races they throw in once in a while,” Spawr said.