The 4-year-old gelding with the mouthful of a name was perfectly content running in his California backyard when, on a day in early June, he found himself on a pallet of stablemates jetting to New York for engagements on the card headed by the Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
Listenupshance, the traveler in question, had been hitting the board in such West Coast events as the San Carlos Stakes (G3) and Palos Verdes Stakes. But nothing had prepared him for the confrontation ahead. Awaiting Listenupshance at Saratoga in the June 6 True North Stakes (G3) was none other than 2025 champion male sprinter Book'em Danno and 2025 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Bentornato.
If the invader was intimidated by such company, he didn't let it show, although he might have been gawking a bit when the gates opened, as jockey Antonio Fresu found himself at the back of a rapidly accelerating pack.
Undaunted, Listenupshance grabbed the bit and shot through an inside lane to challenge Bentornato on the lead through blistering fractions that included a half-mile split in :43.44. In the final yards, Book'em Danno glided past both pacesetters to win by three-quarters of a length, while Bentornato nipped the stubborn Californian by a nose for second place.
Video: True North S. (G3)
"We celebrated that night like we won the race," said Doug O'Neill, who trains Listenupshance for Run Fast Racing and Great Friends Stables. "The way he was improving, we thought that on any given day he might be able to run with the big guys."
At the very least, Listenupshance will get a chance to prove the True North was not a fluke when he faces eight opponents going 6 furlongs July 25 in the $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar. In addition to its grade 1 rating and fat purse (by California standards), as a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event, the 81st running of the Bing Crosby offers the winner a fees-paid berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Four Bing Crosby winners have gone on to take the Sprint, most recently Amazombie in 2011.
On his home grounds, Listenupshance might be one of the big guys already, rising from blue-collar beginnings as a $10,000 yearling purchase. He was purchased privately by O'Neill's clients after breaking his maiden for $20,000 at Del Mar a year ago for trainer Kent Sweezey. All three of his wins, including two on the dirt for O'Neill, have come at Del Mar.
With three seconds and three thirds to go along with those wins, Listenupshance—by Shancelot out of the Hard Spun mare Listenupnow—sports an admirable record of consistency, with the exception of a race on the Del Mar turf last summer in which he was pulled up shortly after the start by his rider Tyler Baze.
"Tyler did the right thing when he thought the horse broke down," O'Neill said. "Our hearts were in our throats. It turned out he must have stepped wrong in a divot, but we didn't take any chances. We gave him a nuclear scan and went over him head to toe. Thank god he was OK."
The dark bay/brown Listenupshance was dappled and hungry July 22 in his Del Mar stall, having galloped and schooled at the gate that morning to earn a tub of grain and sliced carrots from his groom Carlos Cervantes. His 5-furlong gate work in :59 1/5 July 12 at Santa Anita Park was his third since the True North.
The Bing Crosby opposition is led by Aristides Stakes (G3) winner Cornucopian from the far-flung Bob Baffert stable, who defeated Listenupshance in the San Carlos, and Stronghold, whose profile is evolving from his days as a key player on the 3-year-old landscape of 2024 to a versatile threat in sprints and middle-distance events, displayed in his easy score at 7 furlongs in the Triple Bend Stakes (G3) in May at Santa Anita for trainer Phil D'Amato. Antonio Fresu is sticking with Stronghold, which puts Emisael Jaramillo back aboard Listenupshance.
D'Amato is also running Maximum Bourbon, who joined the stable at Churchill Downs just in time to win the St. Matthews Overnight Stakes at 6 furlongs in late April. The son of 2020 Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) winner Maximum Security has won four of six starts.
Midwestern invaders Mad House and Gold Sweep both nailed stakes at this year's Oaklawn meet. For All Mankind ventured from his California base to just miss in the Speightstown Sprint Stakes at Lone Star Park, while Dr. Venkman, with his bankroll of nearly $900,000, has won a race at Del Mar every year since 2023.
Del Mar, Saturday, July 25, 2026, Race 10Entries: Bing Crosby S. (G1)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Maximum Bourbon (KY) Joel Rosario 122 Philip D'Amato - 2 Listenupshance (KY) Emisael Jaramillo 122 Doug F. O'Neill - 3 Dr. Venkman (KY) Umberto Rispoli 122 Mark Glatt - 4 For All Mankind (KY) Armando Ayuso 122 John W. Sadler - 5 Stronghold (KY) Antonio Fresu 122 Philip D'Amato - 6 Cornucopian (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 122 Bob Baffert - 7 Gold Sweep (KY) Mike E. Smith 122 John Haran - 8 Mad House (FL) Sonny Leon 122 David Vanwinkle - 9 Moonlight (KY) Victor Espinoza 122 Peter Miller -
