Kid Cruz gets first graded stakes win in Dwyer

ELMONT, N.Y. – Kid Cruz completed his journey from claimer to graded stakes winner Saturday at Belmont Park by running down entry-mate Captain Serious in the final yards to win the Grade 3, $200,000 Dwyer Stakes by three-quarters of a length.

Captain Serious, who shrugged off two early pace challenges, finished second by 4 1/2 lengths over Ulanbator. Spot, Tiz Dark, and Gaining Ground completed the order of finish.

It was the fourth stakes win and the first in a graded event for Kid Cruz, who was claimed by trainer Linda Rice and owners Steve Brandt and Richard Boylan’s Vina Del Mar Thoroughbreds last November for $50,000. So upset to lose the horse at the claim box, Black Swan Stable, the original ownership group, which includes Sheryl Schwartz, bought back into the horse earlier this year.

In winning the Dwyer, Schwartz defeated her husband, Barry Schwartz, who is the owner and breeder of Captain Serious.

“As long as I’ve been in racing, I’ve been wanting to get him,” a smiling Sheryl Schwartz said after the race.

Disappointment was clearly written on Barry Schwartz’s face, but he did get into the winner’s circle photo “because I said I would.”

Due to some common ownership, Kid Cruz and Captain Serious were made a coupled entry by the racing office. Kid Cruz returned $3.40 to win after running 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.12 over a fast main track.

Kid Cruz, who came from well off the pace to win the Easy Goer Stakes on Belmont Stakes Day, was in the second flight, about three lengths off the pace under Irad Ortiz Jr.

Captain Serious, who was facing open company for the first time while also racing beyond seven furlongs for the first time, set a contested pace of 23.43 seconds for the quarter, 46.57 for the half-mile, and 1:10.50 for six furlongs under Jose Ortiz. Captain Serious, trained by Mike Hushion, turned back Gaining Ground and Tiz Dark and opened up a clear advantage in midstretch.

Irad Ortiz had Kid Cruz along the inside until upper stretch, where he guided him off the rail and set sail for Captain Serious. Kid Cruz drifted out under Ortiz’s aggressive left-handed whip, but Ortiz straightened him out in time to run down Captain Serious.

“You have to stay with him. He’s a little bit lazy. He was close all the way,” Ortiz said. “That was positive, being that close today. He always finishes. I know he’s going to give me some kick at the end.”

Kid Cruz, a son of Lemon Drop Kid, added the Dwyer to listed stakes victories in the Private Terms at Laurel, the Federico Tesio at Pimlico, and the Easy Goer. Kid Cruz will now go to Saratoga and point for the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy on July 27 and possibly the Grade 1, $1 million Travers on Aug. 23.

“The last two races in New York, they’re not tough races at Belmont Park. He got through them unscathed,” Rice said. “I think that makes him qualified to go to Saratoga and hopefully point to the Jim Dandy and Travers.”