The veteran campaigner for Mia Familia Racing Stable stunned the field at Del Mar, earning an automatic berth into the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint this November
Lovesick Blues Hands Giovanni Franco an Unforgettable Victory / BENOIT PHOTO
DEL MAR, California (Special for Turf Diario).- Sometimes, even the impossible finds a way. Saturday was one of those unforgettable afternoons at Del Mar for trainer/owner Librado Barocio and jockey Giovanni Franco, as the duo captured the biggest victory of their careers with the 7-year-old veteran Lovesick Blues in the GI Bing Crosby S., earning a coveted spot in the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint to be run Nov. 1 over the same course.
In a stunning performance, the gray son of Grazen—who had been competing on turf—stormed down the center of the track with a relentless late rally to mow down pacesetter Hejazi (Bernardini) by 1 3/4 lengths. Favored World Record(Gun Runner) checked in third, another 1 1/4 lengths back, unable to meet expectations.
It was around the final turn that Lovesick Blues began to unleash his powerful stride, making steady progress while Franco sat chilly. Once tipped into the clear in the lane, the Cal-bred took command and pulled away decisively, stopping the clock in a solid 1:08.74 for six furlongs after fractions of :21.78 and :44.48.
“I knew when he broke well that we had a shot,” said Barocio, who also owns Mia Familia Racing Stable. “We’ve been working on getting him to close, and when Giovanni started to ask him around the turn, I could see he was loaded. I started screaming—I picked up my wife—it was a miracle!” he laughed, overwhelmed with emotion.
For Franco, the win marked a career-defining milestone: “I’ve always believed in this horse. Around the turn, it felt like a morning breeze. In the stretch, once I asked him, he just took off. I had only ridden him on turf before, but every time I worked him on the main track, he loved it. I told Librado, ‘Why not give it a shot?’ He gave me my first stakes win when I came back, and now my first Grade I. I’m grateful.”
Now a winner of 9 of 41 starts, Lovesick Blues has amassed earnings of $770,000, with $240,000 coming from this unlikely triumph in the 80th running of the Bing Crosby. The race was part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re Inseries, guaranteeing the gelding a spot in the Sprint on the sport’s biggest stage.
Earlier on the card, Pushiness (Kantharos) took the Daisycutter H. at five furlongs on turf for Repole Stable, setting the pace and narrowly holding off Uncorked (Pierro) by a nose. Ridden by Juan Hernández and trained by Mike McCarthy, the 4-year-old filly earned her fifth win from 11 starts.