The opening week of the 13th Bing Crosby Season has produced familiar names at the top of the jockey and trainer standings.
Seven-time Del Mar riding champion Juan Hernandez leads the jockey division with six victories from the first three days. He recorded consecutive hat-tricks on Saturday and Sunday, finishing among the first three in 11 of his 16 rides.
One of his notable successes came aboard Grand Slam Smile in Sunday’s $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes, where the jockey overcame a slow beginning and an inside starting position to secure a decisive victory.
Joel Rosario and Kazushi Kimura are next with four victories apiece, followed by Armando Ayuso with three. Ricky Gonzalez has recorded two wins, while seven other jockeys have each visited the winners’ circle once.
Umberto Rispoli, the defending fall meeting riding champion, was among those with one victory, having guided Green Carrera to success in the Opening Day Let It Ride Stakes.
Hernandez also heads the jockey earnings list with $274,440, more than $76,000 ahead of Rosario.
In the trainers’ division, Philip D’Amato has established an early advantage with three victories. Bob Baffert, John Sadler and Steve Knapp are close behind with two wins apiece.
Sixteen other trainers have each registered one victory during the opening week.
Leonard Powell’s success came in the $100,000 Let It Ride Stakes, while Craig Dollase produced one of the meeting’s notable results when Mr. Disrespectful won the $100,000 The Chosen Vron Stakes.
D’Amato also leads the trainers’ earnings standings with $155,540, more than $62,000 ahead of Baffert.
Among owners, California breeder Nick Alexander occupies the leading position with three victories and $127,600 in earnings.
Field sizes have remained encouraging during the opening stages of the meeting. Across 26 races over three days, the average field size stood at 8.19 runners.
The Jimmy Durante Turf Course recorded an average of 8.85 runners across 13 races, while the main track averaged 7.54 runners from its 13 contests.
Seven horses qualified for the season’s Ship & Win programme during the opening week, although none recorded a victory.
Eight-Race Programme Opens the Second Week
The second week of the Bing Crosby Season begins with an eight-race programme on Friday, with the first race scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
Del Mar will also continue its free weekend racing seminars, held every Saturday and Sunday at the Kona Stage in the Plaza de Mexico. The sessions begin at noon, ahead of the afternoon racing programme, and run for approximately 20 to 25 minutes.
Veteran Del Mar presenter Dan Smith will host Saturday’s session, joined by Ellis Davis, the longtime race chart caller. Sunday’s programme will be led by Frank Scatoni, with tournament participant Evan Topol joining as the guest.
With the opening week producing competitive fields and strong performances from established riders and trainers, the second week promises further interest at Del Mar as the two-year-olds take centre stage in the weekend stakes programme.
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