Dr. Schivel punches BC Sprint ticket with Bing Crosby triumph

DEL MAR, Calif. - Dr. Schivel has picked the right track to call home.

On Saturday, Dr. Schivel remained perfect in three career starts at Del Mar with a hard-fought win in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs. The victory assured Dr. Schivel of an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at the same distance here Nov. 6 through the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Dr. Schivel ($6.80) closed from sixth in a field of eight to win the $301,500 Bing Crosby by a neck over 16-1 Eight Rings. C Z Rocket, second in the 2020 BC Sprint at Keeneland, closed from seventh to finish third, a head behind Eight Rings.

Dr. Schivel raced wide on the turn and gave Prat a confident feeling that the 3-year-old colt would finish well in his first career Grade 1 appearance against older horses despite late pressure.

“He broke well,” Prat said. “I felt I had the winner and would get the wire. The others were staying with me.”

Dr. Schivel was timed in 1:10.47 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90. Brickyard Ride, the 5-1 third choice, set a solid pace of 21.83 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.67 for a half-mile, but began to fade from contention in the final furlong.

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C Z Rocket, the 3-2 favorite, rallied wide through the stretch and was gaining on the leaders in the final strides. Trainer Peter Miller said C Z Rocket was not suited to closing from well off the pace on the Del Mar surface. The final quarter-mile of the Bing Crosby was run in 25.80 seconds.

“He ran great,” Miller said. “He had no chance from off the pace. They came home in 26.”

Law Abidin Citizen finished fourth, followed by Brickyard Ride, Shooters Shoot, Quick Tempo, and Vertical Threat.

The close winning margin was not a major concern for trainer Mark Glatt.

“On the turn, it looked like he’d be right there,” Glatt said. “He’s a young horse and he hasn’t had a lot of races. He might have been waiting on horses. I don’t care how far he wins by.”

Dr. Schivel, by Violence, races for the partnership of Red Baron’s Barn, Rancho Temescal, Bill Branch and Dean Reeves. Jed Cohen, who races as Red Baron’s Barn, was hospitalized with an undisclosed ailment on Saturday, but his son Tim, who directs Rancho Temescal, said his father is expected to be released soon.

The Cohens and Reeves bought an ownership share in Dr. Schivel last summer, shortly before the colt won his stakes debut in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity for trainer Luis Mendez. Dr. Schivel joined Glatt’s stable after the Del Mar Futurity, but did not race again in 2020. Dr. Schivel began his 2021 season with a sharp win in an allowance race at six furlongs at Santa Anita on June 18.

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

Collusion Illusion withdrawn

Collusion Illusion, who won the 2020 Bing Crosby, was withdrawn early Saturday after grabbing a quarter in training on Friday, Glatt said.

“He was okay on it this morning,” Glatt said. “He wasn’t going to be 100 percent, so our ownership group and myself decided it was in our best interest to not run.

“I expect he will be fine after a few days here and we can get right back at it.”

Collusion Illusion, a 4-year-old colt by Twirling Candy, has won 5 of 9 starts and has earned $474,751. Collusion Illusion has not raced since a third behind Charlatan in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita last December.

Glatt said two races in August at Del Mar are possible for Collusion Illusion – the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf on Aug. 22, or the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs on Aug. 28.

“The Green Flash is something to consider,” Glatt said. “I’ve always wanted to try him on the grass.”