Dr. Schivel probable for Santa Anita Sprint Championship next

DEL MAR, Calif. - Dr. Schivel is likely to have one more start before the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 6 after winning his 2021 stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar.

The six-furlong Bing Crosby was run on the same track and at the same distance as this year's BC Sprint.

Trainer Mark Glatt said Sunday morning that the 3-year-old Dr. Schivel emerged from the race “full of himself.”

“He pulled up very well,” Glatt said.

Glatt said Dr. Schivel is likely to start in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs on Oct. 2, five weeks before the BC Sprint.

“Right now, I expect he will have one race before the Breeders’ Cup about a month out,” Glatt said.

In the $301,500 Bing Crosby, Dr. Schivel closed from sixth in a field of eight under jockey Flavien Prat, taking the lead in the final furlong.

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“The way the Del Mar track is playing every horse that closes ground is very impressive,” Glatt said. “You have to be close, within a couple of lengths at the quarter pole. Any horse that can close significant ground says something because the track is so speed dominant.”

Dr. Schivel ($6.80) trailed by three lengths with a quarter-mile remaining and was fully extended to finish a neck in front of 16-1 Eight Rings, who is trained by Bob Baffert. C Z Rocket, the 3-2 favorite who was second in the 2020 BC Sprint at Keeneland, closed from seventh to finish third, beaten a head by Eight Rings.

Dr. Schivel gave Glatt his second consecutive win in the Bing Crosby with a 3-year-old. Last year, Collusion Illusion won the Bing Crosby and was later third in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship and 12th in the BC Sprint.

Collusion Illusion was entered in Saturday’s Bing Crosby, but was withdrawn after he grabbed a quarter while training on Friday, Glatt said.

Dr. Schivel is unbeaten in two starts this year, his first two races for Glatt. Dr. Schivel won an allowance race at six furlongs at Santa Anita on June 18.

By Violence, Dr. Schivel races for the partnership of Red Baron’s Barn, Rancho Temescal, Bill Branch, and Dean Reeves.

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Dr. Schivel originally raced for Branch and Arnold Hill. A private sale was completed shortly before Dr. Schivel won his stakes debut in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity for trainer Luis Mendez last September. Dr. Schivel joined Glatt’s stable after the Del Mar Futurity, but did not race again in 2020.

Dr. Schivel has won 4 of 6 starts and has earned $416,000.

C Z Rocket is likely to start in the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, trainer Peter Miller said. The winner of the Santa Anita Sprint Championship receives an automatic berth to the BC Sprint.