Listenupshance holds on, Cornucopian injured in Bing Crosby

The Doug O’Neill-trained Listenupshance held off Maximum Bourbon in Saturday’s $401,500 Bing Crosby (G1), but the Breeders’ Cup Challenge race was marred by the breakdown of favored Cornucopian on the far turn at Del Mar.

The 6-5 favorite off his recent victory in the Aristides (G3) at Churchill Downs, Cornucopian was starting to gain on front-running Mad House and Listenupshance when he went wrong. Jockey Juan Hernandez pulled him up as soon as he could, and the Bob Baffert trainee was stabilized enough to be transported off in the ambulance. 

Thus a pall was cast over the stretch run, as concern focused on Cornucopian’s condition and prognosis. Del Mar posted on X/Twitter that the colt was “under evaluation by a team of veterinarians.”

Horse Racing Nation provided a further update:

Sunday update: Sadly, the following day, news came from Tom Ryan, co-owner of SF Racing, that Cornucopian could not survive his "catastrophic injury." According to a subsequent post from Del Mar track publicity, the injury was to his right front fetlock.

Listenupshance, who had been runner-up to Cornucopian in the March 29 San Carlos (G3) at Santa Anita, entered on the upswing. The Shancelot gelding was most recently third to champion sprinter Book’em Danno and Bentornato, the reigning Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner, in the June 6 True North (G3) at Saratoga. A similar effort would put him squarely in contention here, and the four-year-old stepped up to the plate.

When Mad House blasted out of the gate like a Quarter Horse, Listenupshance had the speed to chase. Mad House was a half-length up as he reached the opening quarter in :21.88, but Listenupshance took over by the same margin at the half in :44.18. 

Down the stretch, Listenupshance spurted to a daylight lead over the tiring Mad House. Then Maximum Bourbon began to uncork his rally, posing a greater threat the farther they went. 

But the wire came in time for the determined Listenupshance, whose nose was still in front at the conclusion of six furlongs in 1:09.33. Listenupshance, a 5.90-1 chance with Emisael Jaramillo aboard, returned $13.80.

“My plan was to break in front,” Jaramillo said, “but that didn’t happen. I got away just a little bad. So I followed the 8 horse (Mad House) and waited for my chance. He made the lead for me at the half, then we went on from there. He just had enough at the finish.”

“Emisael did such a great job of getting a clean break,” O’Neill said. “He was laying in a perfect spot, but then I saw :21 and change, and I thought maybe they’re both in trouble. I just knew this horse was a warrior. I knew if he was anywhere near at the head of the lane he’d be near at the wire. I’m just over the moon.”

Maximum Bourbon, sporting a similar profile as a fresh face in the division, was validating his own rich vein of form. The four-year-old gelding just romped in his stakes debut in the St. Matthews at Churchill, where Built finished third. Built eventually rolled in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2) at Saratoga Saturday. 

Moonlight, outpaced in last early, closed furiously for third as the 47-1 longest shot on the board. A new recruit to the Peter Miller barn after selling for $250,000 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky’s Horses of Racing Age Sale, he was shortening up to a sprint for the first time. 

Mad House retreated to fourth, followed by Dr. Venkman, Stronghold, and longshot Gold Sweep, who had to veer wide to evade Cornucopian turning for home. For All Mankind was scratched.

Under the “Win & You’re In” provision, Listenupshance secured his fees-paid spot in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland. He could try to go one better than sire Shancelot, who was second to champion Mitole in the 2019 Sprint. 

Campaigned by Great Friends Stable and Run Fast Racing, Listenupshance has bankrolled $438,570 from his 13-4-3-3 line. The dark bay occasionally plied his trade in the claiming ranks, but left those days behind with his runner-up effort in the Feb. 15 Palos Verdes S. 

Listenupshance was entitled to need time to develop as a May 7 foal. Bred by Al and Michelle Crawford Racing in Kentucky, he sold for just $10,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling. His dam, the Hard Spun mare Listenupnow, is a half-sister to Grade 1 turf celebrity La Coronel. This is the extended family of current turf star Burnham Square, who will try to extend his winning streak in next Saturday’s Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs.