The first thing that gets the blood stirring when you go to Del Mar is Bing Crosby’s rendition of “Where the turf meets the turf” and the race that will get the blood pressure boiling this weekend is the renewal of the Bing Crosby Handicap.

The $300,000 guaranteed fixture goes Saturday and although the race will be short on contestants, it will be sweet as far as quality is concern.

In the first running the race could not have been more exciting as Indian Watch and War Allies dead-heated for the win in 1946.

Chinook Pass, whom Laffit Pincay Jr. called the fastest horse he has ever ridden, was best in this event in 1983 and other speedballs like Zany Tactics, Thirty Slews, Lit de Justice and Kona Gold (twice) have made Bing’s blue eyes green with victories in this dash.

Last year Street Boss put in a 10th avenue freeze out against his foes parlaying a 99 winning Beyer in the Triple Bend at Hollypark to a win in the Crosby when he overcame the rail, fact he was dead last early, to win going away with a 107 figure.

Only 11 nominated, but there are a few that will not run so let’s look at the rest in reversed alphabetical order.

Zensational will try to pull off the same feat as the Boss this year as he is fresh from a 105 winning Triple Bend Beyer and will try to take this group all the way right back.

Only one off effort and that was in the debut, Z is a bit inexperienced but is the one to beat.

Talkin to Mom Roo will be trying to win his first stakes and looms a huge number if his connections decide to go.

Name fits for Rush With Thunder. He has limited speed but gets in gear late and was giving the Z man all he could handle when second to that foe in the July final.

Royal Punisher just broke his maiden, but he did it impressively. Still one for one runners seldom step up to win Grade 1 races.

Maimonides has been working the proverbial hole in the win but he has not raced since 2007 while Hurry Up Austin will need a traffic cop aboard to weave his way through a maze.

Beach hunch play Bamaha Breeze can’t be dismissed. He has been out of the exacta only once, is in a high-profile barn and could get away on the board.

Buckle up and here is how it sets up. Zensational has one way to go and that’s to the front and try to extend the margin. He will be tough to collar but he’ll have company possibly with Bamaha Breeze and Maimonides. Expect a duel to occur, but not to take the toll one would expect. With a hundred yards to go Zensational will have put the speed in the pocket and will just have to hold off Rush With Thunder and Talk to Mom Roo.

That’s the trifecta projection, good luck.