Dr. Schivel Battles to Bing Crosby Win, Earns Breeders' Cup Berth
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.