Jordi Bear (IRE) © Benoit Photo

The Del Mar fall race meet – know as the Bing Crosby Season after the iconic track’s iconic founder – is off and running Friday. Entries for the opening day’s eight-race card were drawn Tuesday, headed by the Let It Ride Stakes at a mile on the green for 3-year-olds.

The 13-day session will be run in a Friday through Sunday format with first post daily at 12:30 p.m. going forward to Sunday, November 29. The lone exception to the arrangement will be Thanksgiving Thursday (November 26) when the track will present an early post (11 a.m.) and an early finish (approximately 2:30 p.m.) so folks can make it back home in plenty of time for turkey and all the fixins.

The Let It Ride, which carries a purse of $100,000, has drawn a field of 10 sophs. Possible favorite in the lineup could be the Irish-bred Jordi Bear, who – though he’s yet to tally in four stateside outings has been knocking on the door and may be well spotted for a big effort. He’s owned by the partnership of Glen Hill Farm and Little Red Feather Racing

Trainer Phil D’Amato, who has had great success with European grass imports, calls the shots for the bay “Bear” who’ll be handled by Joel Rosario, who is coming off a Del Mar riding championship when he registered 42 firsts this past summer.

Another horse of note in the lineup is the gray Pavlovian, who has been to the post 15 times and sports a stakes win and more than $600,000 in purses. He’s owned by his breeder, Reddam Racing, and is conditioned by Doug O’Neill, Del Mar’s leading trainer this past summer with 27 victories. Top rider Juan Hernandez will be in the boot.

The Let It Ride will go as Race 6 on the card with a post time of approximately 3 p.m.