Kid Cruz likely for Saturday's Tesio

Kid Cruz, who scratched out of the Wood Memorial due to a sore shoulder, will likely run in Saturday’s Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico as a possible stepping-stone to the Preakness.

Trainer Linda Rice had given some thought to the Illinois Derby, also this Saturday, but for a variety of reasons she decided the Tesio might be better.

“It’s an easier ship, the Preakness is on the same track, it’s good timing-wise,” Rice said. “That’s what we’re considering.”

Rice said that Kid Cruz’s shoulder problems might have been caused by a suspected pinched nerve at the base of the horse’s neck.

Rice said Kid Cruz would just gallop this week and will not have another workout before the Tesio.

Kid Cruz jumped up on people’s radar after a last-to-first victory in the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel on March 8.