It was bomb's away Saturday at Del Mar as Lovesick Blues (Grazen) surged past pacesetter Hejazi (Bernardini) in the final sixteenth to spring the upset in the GI Bing Crosby Stakes and secure himself a spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint in November.
The true war horse of the field (his 40 starts are more than several other runners combined), the 7-year-old gelding began his career all the way back in 2020, earning wins at nearly every California track and banking over $500,000. And while his career began at the lowest maiden claiming levels running for tags of $12,500 and $14,000, Lovesick Blues has seen an uptick in form over the last two years. His first stakes start was a third, beaten just a neck, in the 2023 edition of the GIII Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita and he's been knocking on the door ever since. Purchased privately from breeder Nick Alexander to kick 2025, Lovesick Blues left Steven Miyadi's barn to join Librado Barocio this year and has contested exclusively stakes company in four starts as a 7-year-old including a win in the six-furlong Siren Lure Stakes two back at Santa Anita May 10. Fourth most recently in the same GIII Daytona Stakes he placed in two years ago, the son of Grazen was stepping into immensely deep waters Saturday to tackle his first Grade I.
Drawn widest of the nine-horse field, the 18-1 shot broke with the frontrunners along the inside but quickly took back and allowed a four-wide calvary charge to go on with the tempo up the rail. Falling back nearly to the rear of the first flight, he stayed wide and in the clear as Hejazi got the best of the frontrunners and broke away with Roll On Big Joe (Prospective) right on his flank. 2-1 favorite 'TDN Rising Star' World Record (Gun Runner) sat fifth just outside of the well-regarded Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper) and it was several lengths back to Lovesick Blues and fellow longshot Smooth Cruisein (Girvin).GII Carter Stakes winner Crazy Mason failed to really accelerate from the gate and was a long ways back with the entire field to pass. Around the far turn, Hejazi was still the one to catch through the half-mile in :44.48 and it looked for a moment at the top of the lane as if the $3.5m EASMAY topper might finally grab that elusive stakes win for Zedan Racing and Bob Baffert. But fanning out six paths across the track, Lovesick Blues was just getting going alongside a host of pursuers looking to run down the pacesetter. Everyone seemed to be running out of time but it was the son of Grazen who broke away from the challengers and kept rolling home, nailing Hejazi in the final strides to win going away in emphatic fashion. World Record finished up best of the pack to grab third for Rodolphe Brisset. In addition to earning a Breeders' Cup slot, Lovesick Blues also awarded trainer Librado Barocio, who also heads Mia Familia Racing Stable, his first Grade I win.
“When he broke I said 'great' and we taught him how to close, so when Giovanni (Franco) was turning for home and circling them, I knew he was running,” said Barocio. “I picked up my wife, I was going crazy. Man, what a miracle happened. My first Grade I.”
Winning rider Giovanni Franco added, “You know what, I always have complete confidence in this horse. Turning from home he was doing it just like a morning workout; I was just waiting for the time to go. By the time he hit the stretch, he was all out. I have only been able to ride him in the grass races. And he excels well on the grass, but as far as working him on the main track he is always dragging me out there. I told Librado (Barocio) you know, why not take a chance. As soon as I got back to work on horses in December, this was one of my first workers that I got on. He got me my first stakes win back. Now he got me a Grade I win, and I'm just thankful.”
Pedigree Note:
The fifth graded stakes winner for leading California sire Grazen, Lovesick Blues is also his sire's first Grade I winner though he has been represented by previous Grade I placings from Lieutenant Dan and Enola Gray. Queenofhercastle, a winner herself, has produced three winners from as many to race including this runner's half-brother, Golden State Juvenile Stakes winner Speedy Wilson (Tough Sunday). The dam herself is a half to MGSW Queen Bee To You (Old Topper), already responsible for GSP Princess Madison (Speightstown). Lovesick Blues has a pair of full-brothers born in 2024 and 2025 respectively.
Saturday, Del Mar
BING CROSBY S.-GI, $402,000, Del Mar, 7-26, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:08.74, ft.
1–LOVESICK BLUES, 122, g, 7, by Grazen
1st Dam: Queenofhercastle, by Ministers Wild Cat
2nd Dam: Silk Queen, by Touch Gold
3rd Dam: French Madam, by Rahy
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Mia Familia Racing Stable; B-Nick Alexander (CA); T-Librado Barocio; J-Geovanni Franco. $240,000. Lifetime Record: 41-9-10-8, $770,000. *1/2 to Speedy Wilson (Tough Sunday), SW, $156,150. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hejazi, 122, h, 5, Bernardini–G Note, by Medaglia d'Oro. ($3,550,000 2yo '22 EASMAY). O-Zedan Racing Stables Inc; B-Chester & Mary R Broman (NY); T-Bob Baffert. $80,000.
3–World Record, 122, c, 4, Gun Runner–Marwa (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus). 'TDN Rising Star' 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($410,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV). O-WinStar Farm LLC & BBN Racing LLC; B-Runnymede Farm LLC, Falguieres Bloodstock, Gestut Zur Kuste AG, et al (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset. $48,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1 1/4, 1HF. Odds: 18.60, 4.70, 2.40.
Also Ran: Dr. Venkman, Roll On Big Joe, Crazy Mason, Smooth Cruisein, Spirit of Makena, Mbagnick (Chi). Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
That is one fast horse! 🤯
Lovesick Blues wins the #WinAndYoureIn Bing Crosby Stakes at @delmarracing! pic.twitter.com/HkcBs3xFNL
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) July 27, 2025
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