The Factor, Amazombie head-to-head in Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar
The spectators at Del Mar will witness an exciting old-fashioned battle this Sunday, when The Factor locks horns with last year’s hero, Amazombie, in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs.
The two maverick runners last met in the Grade 2 San Carlos at Santa Anita, where Bob Baffert’s 4-year-old grabbed a convincing triumph, with Amazombie finishing third on the table.
Amazombie was third in last year’s Crosby, but used his good performance as a foundation to scoop the Eclipse Award. A fine effort in the 2011 Bing Crosby Stakes gave him so much confidence that he did not face any difficulty in blitzing the opposition in
the Grade 1 Ancient Title at Santa Anita in October last year.
Carrying forward his fantastic work, the dashing runner recorded an excellent win in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs. Bred in California by Gregg Anderson, the 6-year-old has made three Grade 2 trips so far this season, emerging as winner
once.
The Potrero Grande saw him beating the likes of Roman Threat and Camp Victory in April this year. The gelding is doing a decent job so far, and his trainer and co-owner, Bill Spawr, wants him to replicate what he did last season.
With The Factor in the opposition, the handler was not reluctant to admit that it will be an uphill task for his trainee, if the going stays heavy.
“The Factor, if there’s a soft pace, he keeps going. There’s usually more speed that’s going to come back to him. That certainly helps. But there’s a lack of speed in this race,” Spawr said on a national teleconference on Tuesday.
On skipping the Triple Bend at Betfair Hollywood Park, the trainer explained that waiting for the Del Mar challenge was by design, adding that the gelding will run only in six-furlong events this season.
Taking about Amazombie’s runner-up spot in the Churchill Downs Stakes, he stated: “The race against Shackleford really knocked him out. He was tired and lost weight.”
After showing his magic in the Bing Crosby, the son of War Front is due to defend his Breeders' Cup Sprint title at Santa Anita, where he will enjoy home advantage this year.
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