Lord Nelson sets stakes record in Bing Crosby (G1)

Lord Nelson made his case for best sprinter in the land with his four-length victory in Sunday’s $300,000 Bing Crosby (G1) at Del Mar. The Spendthrift-owned 4-year-old set a stakes record of 1:07.65 for the six furlongs, and missed the track record by a mere .05 seconds.

After a scramble for the lead at the break, it was Lord Nelson in third, a couple lengths off the dueling front-runners Justin Squared and Subtle Indian. Going three-wide on the turn, Lord Nelson began to reel in the leaders and was on even terms straightening for home.

The son of Pulpit began to assert himself in the lane and was never seriously threatened a he came home a four-length winner.

Lord Nelson was Bob Baffert’s fourth Bing Crosby winner, tying him with Bruce Headley for the most victories in the race. Baffert’s first Crosby winner was Thirty Slews in 1992, who would also go on to win that year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1)

Baffert expressed his appreciation for the Bing Crosby itself, as well as happiness for Lord Nelson’s owner B. Wayne Hughes, whose three-time champion Beholder was a game second in yesterday’s Clement L. Hirsch S. (G1), also at Del Mar.

Lord Nelson has victories in the Triple Bend S. (G1) and last year’s San Vicente (G2) to go along with Sunday’s win. His overall mark stands at 6-1-1 in 12 starts with earnings of $778,271.

The Bing Crosby is part of the “Win and You’re In” series which guarantees Lord Nelson an automatic berth in the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on November 5.