C Z Rocket Faces Formidable Rivals in Bing Crosby

C Z Rocket, a $40,000 claim who has since won four stakes and finished second in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), will face eight other sprinters in the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar July 31. The six-furlong Crosby will go as the 10th race on the 11-race card, with a post time of 6:30 p.m. PST. A seasoned traveler for trainer Peter Miller, C Z Rocket nevertheless has formidable rivals. Mark Glatt has entered three of them, including 2020 Crosby winner Collusion Illusion, while Brickyard Ride is a speedy graded winner and multiple stakes winner against California-bred company. A 7-year-old Florida-bred gelded son of City Zip—Successful Sarah, by Successful Appeal, C Z Rocket races for Miller's Altamira Racing Stable, Tom Kagele, Madaket Stables, and Gary Barber. He won the 2020 Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) and Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) and the 2021 Hot Springs Stakes and Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3), in the latter two turning the tables on 2020 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and champion sprinter Whitmore. Florent Geroux will ride C Z Rocket from post 3. Glatt's three are in various stages of comeback modes. "You've got to give them time when they need it," Glatt said. "They're all very, very fresh going into the summer." Collusion Illusion and Law Abidin Citizen ran one-three in the 2020 Crosby. Collusion Illusion was coming off a victory in the Lazaro S. Barrera Stakes (G3) and subsequently placed in two more graded races. Law Abidin Citizen gave Glatt one of the best presents ever for a Washington native—the 2019 Longacres Mile Handicap (G3). Collusion Illusion, a 4-year-old Florida-bred son of Twirling Candy Glatt selected at the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sales April Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds In Training for $300,000, hasn't faced the starter since running third in the Dec. 26 Runhappy Malibu Stakes (G1). Owned by Dan Agnew, Jerry Schneider, Rodney Orr, and MyRacehorse.com, he drew post 6 with jockey Tyler Baze. "He's doing well," said Glatt. "He's maybe not quite 100% ready off the layoff, but I think he's pretty darn close and he runs really well fresh. The biggest thing for him is to get a good post position draw, and it looked like he got that." Agnew and Schneider own Law Abidin Citizen with John Xitco. Also by Twirling Candy, 7-year-old Kentucky-bred Law Abidin Citizen was away from the races after running third in last year's O'Brien until the May 29 Daytona Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park, where he finished fourth. He then won the July 3 Oak Tree Sprint at Pleasanton. Glatt named Wayne Barnett on Law Abidin Citizen, who drew post 4. But the trainer indicated that he might scratch Law Abidin Citizen in lieu of a better spot for him. Glatt's third entrant, 3-year-old Dr. Schivel (Flavien Prat, post 8), scored in last year's Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1) for trainer Luis Mendez. Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal bought a major interest in the colt from breeders William Branch and Arnold Hill and William Dean Reeves before the Futurity upon Glatt's recommendation. The Kentucky-bred Violence colt received a lengthy layoff, and in his first start for Glatt, Dr. Schivel won an allowance optional claimer at Santa Anita June 18. "He sure seemed to pass with flying colors in that comeback race," said Glatt. Alfred (Sonny) Pais' homebred Brickyard Ride has zoomed to the top of the Cal-bred sprinting ranks for trainer Craig Lewis. He has won the San Carlos Stakes (G2), Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint Stakes, and Thor's Echo Stakes. A son of Lewis-trained Clubhouse Ride, Brickyard Ride drew post 9 and has the services of Juan Hernandez.