Crosby-O’Brien Sweep Possible

The last time a horse swept the Bing Crosby and the Pat O’Brien, the two major sprint stakes for older horses at Del Mar, was 1991 when Bruho won both for owner Joe Scardino and trainer Jerry Fanning.

Disturbingthepeace will be favored to complete the same parlay when he shoots for his sixth consecutive victory in the $150,000 O’Brien today.

Owned by David and Rita Milch and trained by Darrell Vienna, the 4-year-old Bold Badgett gelding began his roll with a half-length victory against California-breds in a soft allowance race on March 20 at Santa Anita, won an open allowance race on April 13, then won an optional claimer and the Triple Bend Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park before taking the Crosby by three-quarters of a length on July 27.

Purchased privately as part of a package that included the stakes-winning filly Above Perfection last year, Disturbingthepeace is stretching out to his best distance in the O’Brien. He has won three of four at seven furlongs and was second in his only defeat.

He has shown versatility in that he has won while setting the pace or coming from slightly off the lead. What happens today depends on Hot Market. The gray is the likely pacesetter, but he may scratch, leaving Disturbingthepeace to dictate things up front in a race where the other entrants (I Love Silver, Mellow Fellow, Blu Air Force and Komax) are all stretch runners.

Race of the day: Black Ruby will try for her 47th win in 53 starts in the $5,000 Cream City Mule Handicap at Ferndale. Owned by Sonny and Mary McPherson, Black Ruby won the 660-yard race by three lengths last year.

Who’s hot: Include. One of the better handicap horses in the country, the 5-year-old Broad Brush horse will try for his 11th win in 19 starts in the $350,000 Philip H. Iselin Handicap today at Monmouth Park.

Who’s not: Trainers Joe Parga and Sean McCarthy. They are a combined 0 for 67 in 2002.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Rapidough and Romanzo in the third, Composure and Ain’t It Sweep in the fourth and Unlimited Value, Sing Because, Champ’s Star and St. Remy in the fifth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/44. Money: Previous day/meet total: $24.00/$268.60. Total money bet: $376.