Crupi gets class relief but still needs very best in Suburban

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Crupi has plenty of history behind him, as he was bred by a storied operation, named in memory of an accomplished horseman, and races for top connections. He has taken time, but appeared to be finding best stride recently. Crupi will need his best to deliver on the long-held hopes for him as he contests the 138th running of the Grade 2, $350,000 Suburban Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday at Saratoga.

“He’s a slow learner,” said Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who will also saddle defending winner Charge It. “The older he gets, the better he’s kind of adapted to scenarios. He had a habit of not getting out of the gate real well, so hopefully he’s starting to put it all together.”

Crupi, by Curlin, was bred at Claiborne Farm and was a Keeneland yearling purchase by Mike Repole’s Repole Stable and Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stable. They named him for the late bloodstock agent and consigner James “J.J.” Crupi. Among the countless accomplished runners passing through the late horseman’s New Castle Farm in Ocala, Fla., were Repole and Viola’s champion Vino Rosso; Repole’s champion Uncle Mo; and Viola’s multiple Grade 1 winner Liam’s Map.

It took Crupi eight starts to win his maiden, but late last year, he began to string a series of good races together. He won the Discovery Stakes in November and the Queens County Stakes in December, both at 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct. In January, he finished a creditable third behind National Treasure and Senor Buscador in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup, where Pletcher felt the horse disliked kickback. Most recently, Crupi was 10th in the Dubai World Cup in March in his only try at 10 furlongs. Pletcher said the grinding, closing runner emerged from that trip well.

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“I think a lot of it depends on how he handles the kickback and what kind of trip he gets,” Pletcher said.

That is a key factor as Crupi has drawn post 7 in the field of eight with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard and will likely want to drop in to save ground. Crupi also could find himself getting kickback from Bendoog as that one cuts over from the outside post, with Jose Lezcano watching to see if pace develops to his inside or if his mount should take the initiative. Bendoog, a veteran of stakes competition in Dubai before coming to trainer Bill Mott in the United States, comes off back-to-back wins at Aqueduct, most recently an allowance race in front-running fashion.

“I think it will all depend on what the pace is,” Mott said. “That will determine where he’s at in the race.”

Charge It drew post 4 under John Velazquez and also could be a player in the early going. In his best efforts, including last year’s Suburban, the long-legged gray has stalked the pace and then taken over midway, continuing on with good stamina.

“Last year when he won the Suburban, he was able to get away and get into the race early, and I think when he’s at his best is that type of running,” Pletcher said, adding that he likes this year’s two-turn configuration of the race as opposed to last year when it started on a turn going 1 1/4 miles at Belmont.

Charge It made his first start of the year in the Grade 3 Westchester Stakes at a mile at Aqueduct. He finished third, and Pletcher said he is “doing well” since that effort.

Only two other members of the field have won at 1 1/4 miles. Kuchar did so several years, and several trainers, ago in an allowance race in May 2022 at Churchill Downs. He has won 2 of 4 starts in New York for current trainer Rudy Rodriguez. Good Skate was a front-running winner of an allowance race at this distance in February 2023 at Aqueduct. The 5-year-old has only won once since.

The Suburban might actually be a little short for Masqueparade, winner of the Temperence Hill Stakes at Oaklawn and third in the Isaac Murphy Marathon at Churchill, both at 12 furlongs.

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