Smiling Tiger wins Bing Crosby at Del Mar
August 2, 2010DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) - Smiling Tiger led all the way in winning Sunday's $250,000 Bing Crosby Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths over Scenic Blast at Del Mar.
Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Smiling Tiger ran six furlongs in 1:09.21 and paid $17.80, $7.20 and $4 while winning his first Grade 1 stakes.
Scenic Blast returned $6.40 and $4.20, while E.Z's Gentleman was another 3 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $3 to show.
Cost of Freedom finished fourth after missing the break and coming away from the starting gate last in the field of six.
``For some reason he just jumped in the air. Just when they opened the gate, he jumped,'' jockey Rafael Bejarano said. ``It cost me the race.''
The victory, worth $150,000, increased Smiling Tiger's career earnings to $333,864, with four wins in seven starts.
Joel Rosario rode three winners on the card.