Lord Nelson the one to beat in Bing Crosby

Lord Nelson stamped himself as a serious contender for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) when capturing the Triple Bend (G1) on June 25 and the Bob Baffert-trained colt will take some beating in Sunday’s $300,000 Bing Crosby (G1) at Del Mar. The 4-year-old heads a field of nine in the 6-furlong event.

A debut maiden winner at Del Mar in 2014, Lord Nelson recorded his first graded victory when opening last year in the San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita. He missed a good chunk of his sophomore season, returning from a seven-month layoff with a third to champion sprinter Runhappy in the Malibu (G1) in late December and the chestnut son of Pulpit brings a 2-for-2 mark this year into the Bing Crosby. Flavien Prat takes over for Rafael Bejarano, who will be at Monmouth to ride American Freedom in the Haskell (G1).

Triple Bend runner-up Subtle Indian also returns and the Grade 3 winner will show plenty of speed from the start with Mike Smith. Another speedball, stakes victor Justin Squared, is entered to his immediate inside in the starting gate.

Other runners of note include Alsvid, who ships west off wins in the Aristides (G3) and Kelly’s Landing at Churchill Downs. Chris Landeros will be along for the ride on the Chris Hartman-conditioned gelding. Multiple Grade 3 scorer Home Run Kitten exits a fourth in the Triple Bend and Indexical is a two-time winner on Del Mar’s main track and finished third in last year’s Pat O’Brien (G2).

Photo courtesy of Benoit