Alsvid Takes on Lord Nelson in Bing Crosby

Chris Hartman brought his first sizeable string to Del Mar this year, and one in that group stood out.

The trainer calls Black Hawk Stable's Alsvid the "head dog" of his stable and the gelding will try to earn his first top-level score in the $300,000 Bing Crosby (gr. I) July 31 at Del Mar.

The 7-year-old son of Officer very well could be in the top form of his career, following back-to-back scores in the Aristides (gr. III) and Kelly's Landing stakes at Churchill Downs, but he's in against the toughest group he's seen since he ran 13th in the 2015 TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).

BALAN: Alsvid Repeats in Aristides Stakes

"He's the best horse we've got," Hartman said. "If we're going to take a stab at them, you should take it with your best horse. I know this is a tough spot for the horse and it's very competitive, but you don't get a lot of opportunities like this."

Spendthrift Farm's last-out Triple Bend (gr. I) winner Lord Nelson will almost surely be the favorite in the six-furlong Bing Crosby, but Hartman is most concerned with second-place Triple Bend finisher Subtle Indian, who defeated Alsvid by 3 3/4 lengths in the April 10 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park.

The speedy son of Indian Charlie trained by Robertino Diodoro has finished second in two graded starts since relocating to Southern California, but neither was at his ideal distance of six furlongs. Subtle Indian has five wins in seven starts at three-quarters of a mile.

LEWYN: Subtle Indian Powerful in Count Fleet Sprint

"I know Lord Nelson beat him at seven furlongs, but three-quarters is a whole different story for that horse," Hartman said.

Hartman was initially hesitant to commit to a race for Alsvid upon arrival at Del Mar, somewhat concerned with how the gelding would handle the main track, but he got the go-ahead from his top trainee when he worked a bullet half-mile in :46 2/5 at the seaside racetrack July 16.

"We worked him over the track—and he's a funny kind of horse—but he went :46 2/5 and galloped out strong," Hartman said of Alvsvid, who he envisions getting an off-the-pace trip in the Bing Crosby. "The horse is doing good and the pace scenario could be favorable to us."

Lord Nelson is one of two entries from the barn of Bob Baffert, who will be seeking his fourth Bing Crosby victory. Also entered is Zayat Stables' Justin Squared, who is exiting the only loss of his career, an 11th-place run in the June 11 Woody Stephens (gr. II). The swift son of Zensational broke his maiden by 5 1/2 lengths at Del Mar in September before an allowance score at Los Alamitos Race Course in April to kick off his 3-year-old campaign and a two-length win in the Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico Race Course May 21.

Two-time grade III winner Home Run Kitten, graded stakes-placed Dream Saturday and Indexical, stakes-placed Kaabraaj, and allowance victory Bluegrass Bronco, complete the field.