Del Mar Racecourse will open its 2026 Bing Crosby Season on Friday with an eight-race programme headlined by the $100,000 Let It Ride Stakes, a one-mile turf contest for three-year-olds. The 13-day autumn meeting will honour the track’s iconic founder, Bing Crosby, and will run through Sunday, November 29.
The meeting will follow a Friday-to-Sunday format, with the first race scheduled for 12:30 p.m. each day. The only exception will come on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, when Del Mar will bring forward the opening time to 11 a.m. and conclude the programme at approximately 2:30 p.m.
The Let It Ride Stakes will attract a field of 10 three-year-olds, with Irish-bred Jordi Bear among the notable contenders. Although the horse will arrive without a victory in four previous starts in the United States, his recent performances will offer encouragement ahead of the one-mile assignment.
Owned by the partnership of Glen Hill Farm and Little Red Feather Racing, Jordi Bear will be trained by Phil D’Amato, who will look to draw on his successful record with European turf imports. Joel Rosario will take the ride after finishing the summer Del Mar meeting as its leading jockey with 42 victories.
Another leading name in the field will be Pavlovian, a grey horse with 15 career starts, a stakes victory and more than $600,000 in earnings. Owned and bred by Reddam Racing, he will represent trainer Doug O’Neill, who will return after finishing the summer meeting as Del Mar’s leading trainer with 27 victories. Juan Hernandez will take the mount.
The Bing Crosby Season will begin with an eight-race opening card, while the Let It Ride Stakes will provide one of Friday’s main attractions. The contest will be run as Race 6, with an approximate post time of 3 p.m.
Bing Crosby Season will open at Del Mar on Friday with an eight-race programme, featuring the $100,000 Let It Ride Stakes for three-year-olds over one mile on turf.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.