Greenpointcrusader finds nice return spot
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – When Greenpointcrusader was last seen by the racing public, the colt was dropping off the 2016 Kentucky Derby trail with a seventh-place finish in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds last March.
Owned by a partnership led by the St. Elias Stable of Vinnie and Teresa Viola, Greenpointcrusader now resurfaces 10 months later as the obvious horse to beat in a $49,000 allowance race that highlights an 11-race Friday card at Gulfstream Park. Greenpointcrusader, now 4, won the Grade 1 Champagne in October 2015 when trained by Dominick Schettino. He runs Friday for trainer Todd Pletcher.
“He was sent to us here in Florida about 2 1/2 months ago after getting some time off at Jimmy Crupi’s farm in Ocala,” Pletcher said this week from his Palm Beach Downs base. “We’re grateful to have him. Obviously, he’s a talented horse. He’s trained willingly and been pretty straightforward, really.”
Greenpointcrusader is out of Ava Knowsthecode, and Pletcher trained her graded-stakes-winning sons Keyed Entry and Algorithms. Ava Knowsthecode also is the dam of Justin Phillip, an earner of nearly $1.3 million.
“We’ve been training for the Violas for a little while now, and we trained some really nice horses out of this colt’s dam,” Pletcher said. “She’s a real blue hen.”
John Velazquez will be back aboard when Greenpointcrusader breaks from the outside post in a field of six in a one-mile second-level allowance carded as the 10th race. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern, with the feature set for 5:02 and the last race for 5:32.
Greenpointcrusader will face an undistinguished crew in his return, including Flashy Jewel, Scarly Charly, and Face of Winner, all entered for an optional-claiming tag of $62,500.
KEY CONTENDERS
Greenpointcrusader, by Bernardini
(Last 3 Beyers: 75-90-82)
◗ Six works at Palm Beach since mid-December have greased the skids for a colt who not only won the Champagne by 4 1/2 lengths but was favored in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and further fostered high hopes by finishing second here last winter in the Holy Bull.
Flashy Jewel, by Flashy Bull
(Last 3 Beyers: 89-91-80)
◗ This gray gelding was entered in a similar race Thursday at Gulfstream by owner-trainer Eddie Kenneally but was expected to scratch in favor of running here.
Scarly Charly, by Friends Lake
(Last 3 Beyers: 91-82-78)
◗ This son of the 2004 Florida Derby winner was sharp when finishing second for this same condition in a Jan. 7 allowance and now stretches out slightly from seven furlongs.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Scarly Charly. Trainer Larry Rivelli is 32-14-1-6 with a $3.01 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route on dirt. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Face of Winner, by Street Boss
(Last 3 Beyers: 83-88-82)
◗ Rail-drawn ridgling makes his first start in three months after being overmatched at Belmont Park in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler, a race that followed back-to-back victories.