Bo Cruz basically cruised to victory in the $294,500 Commonwealth Stakes (G3) April 6 at Keeneland in what trainer Al Stall Jr. admitted was an experiment.
Jockey Jose Ortiz said it was a total success.
Bred by Douglas Scharbauer the son of Creative Cause out of the Ghostzapper mare Quick Breeze was foaled, raised and sold by Hidden Brook Farm at the 2021 Keeneland September sale. Quick Breeze is a half-sister to 2017 GI Preakness S. winner Cloud Computing.
The 4-year-old made short work of the seven furlongs. After shadowing the early pace, Ortiz sent him to the lead on the turn and he responded eagerly, drawing off to win by 2 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:22.94. Minnesota Ready was along for second with Wico third.
Bo Cruz was named a “TDN Rising Star” for his 12 1/4-length maiden romp in his second start going 8.5 furlongs at Fair Grounds last March. Stall had tried Bo Cruz at just about every distance available since then with mixed results. In his only prior graded stakes effort, he faded to third in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at 1 1/8 miles at Ellis Park in June 2023. The colt races for owners Roger Cettina, Brian Pagano, Patrick Grippo, Peter Martine and Bruno De Julio.
“It was an experiment, obviously,” the happy trainer said of the now 3-for-7 colt. “We just had a gut feeling.”
“We had everything go our way,” Ortiz added. “He was just galloping down the backstretch and when I asked him, he did kick very well.”
-edited from www.bloodhorse.com
