Horse Racing News by Jack Shinar

Points Offthebench made his first venture into stakes company a successful one, winning the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes, over Goldencents in a terrific fight to the wire July 28 at Del Mar.

Verrazano led the 3-year-old ranks this spring, and after his thorough demolishing of a good field in the $1 million William Hill Haskell Invitational July 28 at Monmouth Park, it looks like he's right back on top.

Odds-on favorite Joyful Victory returned to her winning form with a front-running 7 ½-length humbling of four opponents in the $195,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes July 28 at Monmouth Park.

Kettle Corn came from off the pace to win the $200,000 San Diego Handicap, spoiling the return of Paynter to graded stakes competition July 27 at Del Mar.

A determined Laughing refused to relinquish the lead in the $588,000 Diana Stakes July 27 over the inner turf course at Saratoga Race Course, leading all the way for her first Grade 1 victory in a terrific finish.

Mired in a yearlong slump since moving to the Doug O'Neill barn from Bob Baffert, Richard's Kid snapped out of it with a repeat victory in the $100,000 Cougar II Handicap July 26 at Del Mar.

His foray into the 2013 Triple Crown season behind him, Goldencents gets back to work in the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes, a six-furlong sprint at Del Mar in which he will face older horses for the first time.

Late-running Jeranimo returned to his best form with a perfect setup in the $300,000 Eddie Read Stakes July 20, soaring through the stretch under a confident Rafael Bejarano to win going away on the turf at Del Mar.

Princess of Sylmar was much the best in the $294,000 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks, adding the July 20 Saratoga Race Course fixture to her earlier win in the Kentucky Oaks this spring for Ed Stanco's King of Prussia Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher.

Consistent filly Unusual Way, a stakes winner in her only try on turf, is part of a well-matched field of 3-year-old fillies set to battle July 21 in the $150,000 San Clemente Stakes on the Del Mar lawn.