July 31st, 2021 BY Tracy Gantz
CONTENT PROVIDED BY BloodHorse
Dr. Schivel, who finished last year's Del Mar summer meeting with a victory in the Grade 1 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity, returned to the track this year to defeat older sprinters in the $300,000 Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes July 31. The six-furlong Crosby earned Dr. Schivel a Breeders' Cup challenge berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint, this fall to be run at Del Mar.
The 3-year-old faced seasoned older sprinters, including the crack speedster C Z Rocket. When the gate opened, California-bred multiple stakes winner Brickyard Ride bobbled slightly from the outside post, but then zipped to the front, clocking the first quarter-mile in a swift :21.83.
Dr. Schivel, breaking from post 7 in the eight-horse field under jockey Flavien Prat, got away in sixth. Racing three wide into the turn, Dr. Schivel had to angle out even wider into the stretch.
After a half-mile in :44.67, Brickyard Ride still had the lead from the inside, but Law Abidin Citizen challenged him and took a brief lead past the eighth pole. Eight Rings also challenged, and as Dr. Schivel came up on the outside of them, the four horses surged toward the wire.
Favored C Z Rocket had an extremely wide trip and after getting outpaced on the turn, also came flying late. Dr. Schivel edged Eight Rings to win by a neck, and C Z Rocket just missed catching Eight Rings by a head to be third. Law Abidin Citizen was a half-length back in fourth, with Brickyard Ride fifth.
Dr. Schivel ran six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.47.
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