Bridget’s Big Luvy cruises in Private Terms

Bridget’s Big Luvy made short work of the $100,000 Private Terms Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile route for 3-year-olds, at Laurel Park on Saturday.

Equipped with blinkers for the first time, and making his first start beyond seven furlongs, Bridget’s Big Luvy was quickest from the gate over the muddy track and opened a clear advantage. He was rated smoothly on the lead by jockey Angel Cruz, then turned back Bodhisattva in the stretch for a 2 1/2-length decision.

“I thought Angel gave him a dynamite ride,” trainer Jeremiah Englehart said by phone after the race. “He’s not the type of horse you want to grab. You just want to take a long hold and let him do his thing.”

Bridget’s Big Luvy paid $15.20 as the fourth choice in the six-horse field. He was timed in 1:51.92 following splits of 24.25, 48.14, 1:13.14 and 1:39.08.

“When he switched leads on the turn I was looking back because I knew I had so much horse,” Cruz said.

Bodhisattva was content to track the winner early. He made a move to get within a length or two in upper stretch but lost ground thereafter. Net Gain, the 6-5 favorite, lagged back early, lodged a bid into the stretch, but could not gain on the top two in the final furlong, finishing third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Bodhisattva.

Bridget’s Big Luvy won his maiden going six furlongs in the mud at Belmont Park in October. He was then fifth in the seven-furlong Hutcheson at Gulfstream Park.

Englehart said he didn’t have any immediate plane for Bridget’s Big Luvy, a son of Tiz Winderful who is owned by Tom O'Grady.

“We’ll just celebrate this for a while, but it’s very exciting to have a 3-year-old that can go a distance of ground this time of year,” he said. “If there’s a spot where we can grab some Derby points or something, we might go for it.”