Carthage the Pick in Crosby

Bordonaro has won four in a row, but he is not the hottest sprinter in the $300,000 Bing Crosby Handicap, a Grade I which will be run for the 61st time today at Del Mar.

That distinction belongs to Carthage, who has won five consecutive races for trainer and part-owner Art Sherman. A 6-year-old gray gelding, Carthage will be making his first Del Mar appearance since he won a $32,000 claimer on Sept. 1, 2004. The son of Smoke Glacken won by 5 1/2 lengths that day and was taken by his current connections.

Since joining the Sherman barn, Carthage has won seven of 10 and has established himself as one of the top sprinters in the country. Regular jockey Dennis Carr will ride and they will leave from the outside in the field of six in the six-furlong Crosby.

Trained by Bill Spawr for owner-breeders Dan Cassella and Fred Carillo, Bordonaro, a 5-year-old Memo gelding, has won eight of 10 in his career. The Crosby will be his first race since he won the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, a Grade III, on April 13 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. Alex Solis will ride.

The field is completed by Pure As Gold, who was claimed for $100,000 on June 14 by trainer Jack Carava for La Canada Stables LLC, Trickey Trevor, Premium Saltine and Battle Won, who finished second in the 2005 Crosby.

Race of the day: Take D’Tour, who has won her last four races by a combined 25 lengths, will make her Saratoga debut in the $250,000 Go For Wand Handicap today. Cornelio Velasquez will ride the 5-year-old Tour d’Or mare for owner Alice Muller and trainer David Fawkes in the Grade 1 at 1 1/8 miles. Seven others are scheduled to run, including Apple Blossom winner Spun Sugar, Oonagh Maccool and Pool Land.

One for the road: Booming Along gets a pivotal jockey change to Catalino Martinez and can score a mild upset in the 11th race today at Santa Rosa. The 4-year-old Boomerang gelding is a two-time winner on the grass and should get a good trip from just off the pace in the $31,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Bradford in the fifth, Jump Rope Girl, Heiress Apparent, Incredible and Broad Try in the sixth and Miracle Maker and Storm Mate in the seventh.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 6/31. Money: (previous day/meet total): $40.60/$174.60. Total money bet: $172.