Drefong returns, heads strong Bing Crosby Field

DEL MAR, Calif. – Drefong, last year’s champion male sprinter, is scheduled to make his first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint when he heads a large, talented field for the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes going six furlongs Saturday.

It’s the first Grade 1 race of the Del Mar meet.

His rivals are expected to include three trained by Peter Miller, including Roy H and Solid Wager. Miller’s third entrant, St. Joe Bay, worked a half-mile in 49.40 seconds Monday morning at San Luis Rey Downs. St. Joe Bay has not raced since finishing fourth in the Golden Shaheen in Dubai four months ago behind Mind Your Biscuits.

Big Macher, who won the Crosby in 2014, is expected to run, as are Kobe’s Back, Moe Candy, Ransom the Moon, and possibly Denman’s Call and Lord Simba.

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The Crosby is a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, which will be run at Del Mar for the first time this year.

The Crosby kicks off a Grade 1 weekend at Del Mar. On Sunday, Stellar Wind and Vale Dori have a rematch in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, which is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Stellar Wind was first and Vale Dori second in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile last month at Santa Anita.

The presence of those two top-class mares is expected to keep the Hirsch field small. Autumn Flower and Faithfully are likely to run, and both Mines and Magic and Shenandoah Queen are possible.

Stakes for California-breds are supporting features both days. On Saturday, older males go 1 1/16 miles on turf in the $150,000 California Dreamin’, with He Will, My Italian Babbo, Native Treasure, and recent Grade 3 American winner Pee Wee Reese among the probables.

All of a Sudden, Alpenhorn, Dreamy Gal, Miss Sunset, and S Y Sky are among the 3-year-old fillies expected Sunday for the $150,000 Fleet Treat going seven furlongs. Please Do and Queen Bee to You are possible.

McAnally hospitalized

Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally was being observed at Scripps Encinitas Hospital on Monday after falling and hitting his head at the local restaurant Pamplemousse Grille on Sunday night at a fundraiser for the California Retirement Management Account.

Dan Landers, McAnally’s longtime assistant, on Monday morning said McAnally spent Sunday night in the hospital and was expected to spend a second night there before being released. Landers said McAnally, who has a troublesome knee, said his knee gave way, but because McAnally hit his head, doctors wanted to be sure there were no issues.

Trainers Bob Baffert and Richard Mandella, who were at the dinner, said McAnally, though woozy, never appeared to lose consciousness and did not appear to have any external bleeding. Baffert said McAnally retained his sense of humor. As McAnally was being taken away by paramedics, McAnally asked Baffert, “Is this how you felt yesterday?” in reference to Arrogate’s poor race on Saturday.

McAnally turned 85 on July 11.