Air Strike © Benoit Photo

Air Strike and Cistron, separated by only a head at the end of the Triple Bend Stakes in late May at Santa Anita, will be rematched Saturday as part of an eight-horse line-up of sharp sprinters in the Grade I $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar.

The six-furlong Crosby is the first of five Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” contests to be presented this summer at Del Mar wherein the winner automatically qualifies for a berth in the upcoming Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita. In this case, the Crosby winner will qualify for the BC Sprint.

Five of the eight Crosby entrants come into the race from victories in their last starts, including Air Strike who narrowly defeated Cistron in the Triple Bend. Norberto Arroyo, Jr., again has the mount on Air Strike, while Victor Espinoza will be aboard Cistron.

Winners in their most recent races are Calexman, to be piloted by Geovanni Franco; Desert Law, Rafael Bejarano; Line Judge, Drayden Van Dyke, and Chief Cicatriz, Ruben Fuentes. Completing the line-up are Recruiting Ready, an invader from New York who was beaten only a half-length while finishing third behind Catalina Cruiser in the True North, and Jalen Journey, second in the Smile Sprint at Gulfstream Park. Catalina Cruiser, the top sprinter of the 2018 Del Mar meeting, came back to win the San Diego Handicap a week ago.

Desert Law took the Thors Echo in mid-June at Santa Anita, Line Judge won the Kellys Landing at Churchill Downs after being claimed by trainer Peter Miller, and Chief Cicatriz accounted for the Dark Star at Canterbury Downs in Minnesota.

Supporting feature on Saturday’s nine-race card is the $150,000 Real Good Stakes at seven furlongs for California-bred runners. Entrants are Lieutenant Dan, Cruel Intention, Prodigal Son, Oliver and Posterize.

Post time for the first race is 2 p.m.