Crucero comes up big in San Juan Capistrano victory

ARCADIA, Calif. – Crucero, the former maiden claimer, gave a career-best performance to win Sunday’s $150,500 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at Santa Anita. He very nearly was kept in his stall.

After Crucero scored a 23-1 upset over the 3-5 Going Somewhere in the turf marathon, trainer Keith Desormeaux said he had hesitations about starting the 5-year-old horse a week after a second-place finish in an optional claimer.

“I did try to convince myself not to run,” Desormeaux said.

As race day neared, Desormeaux opted for a start. Crucero was sharp throughout and benefited from an equipment malfunction by Going Somewhere to win the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano at about 1 3/4 miles on turf.

Ridden by Keith’s brother, Kent, Crucero ($48.40) closed from fourth in the final quarter-mile to win by a neck in 2:49.46. Going Somewhere drifted out as the field ran through the stretch for the first time and on the first turn under jockey Mike Smith.

“I had no bit,” Smith said.

“He had steering problems,” trainer Neil Drysdale said. “He should have won. He ran a blinder.”

Going Somewhere was near the front throughout. He set the early pace and stalked the 53-1 Tiz Futurity on the backstretch before taking the lead on the final turn. Going Somewhere was challenged by Crucero and Decisive Edge in the stretch before Crucero took the lead in the final sixteenth.

Decisive Edge finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Crucero and was followed by Golden Soul, Customer Base, Tiz Futurity, and Patriots Rule.

Keith Desormeaux said there were several factors that led to the decision to run.

“It was the mile and three-quarters, his long, lumbering stride, and the fact that he relaxed so good,” Keith Desormeaux said. “I tried to talk myself out of it.”

Owned by Matt Bryan’s Big Chief Racing, Crucero was claimed for $40,000 from a maiden race Jan. 16, when he finished fifth. He won a $20,000 claiming race for maidens in his next start Feb. 15, the lowest level of competition at Santa Anita.

Crucero won for the second time in his career in the San Juan Capistrano. He made his stakes debut in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes on May 24, finishing fifth. Going Somewhere was third in that race.

By the A.P. Indy stallion Admiral’s Cruise, Crucero has won 2 of 17 starts and earned $190,380.