Kid Cruz may try Preakness after dominating Federico Tesio
Kid Cruz put himself in position for a possible start in the Preakness Stakes with a dominant victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico.
No Tesio winner has captured the Preakness since Deputed Testamony in 1983, but 2011 Tesio runner-up Ruler On Ice went on to win the Belmont Stakes.
Kid Cruz, scratched from the April 5 Wood Memorial Stakes in New York because of a sore shoulder, was returning to Maryland for the first time since winning the 1 1/8-mile Private Terms by four lengths on March 1.
In the 1 1/16-mile Tesio, reduced to six runners by three scratches, Oliver Zip and 39-1 outsider Mr. Rover dueled up front early through slow fractions of 24.78, seconds, 50.44, and 1:16.39. Kid Cruz ($4.40), sitting about four lengths back with Julian Pimentel aboard, was not asked for his best run until midstretch and he drew clear to win by 3 1/2 lengths. The winning time was 1:47.38.
Matuszak, third behind Kid Cruz in the Private Terms, outfought Joint Custody, the runner-up In the Private Terms, for second.
“He was running very easy and very comfortable,” Pimentel said. “ He asked me to run a little early on the backstretch, so I had to hold him a little bit. He got up really well, really strong. I think I could have won by more but I just bided my time. Once I asked him he was ready.”
Kid Cruz, who has two wins and a second since he was claimed by trainer Linda Rice on behalf of Vina Del Mar Thoroughbreds and Black Swan Stable, is a son of Lemon Drop Kid.
“I was a little worried that they were going to take this race from wire-to-wire but there was enough pressure to weaken the leader late,” said assistant trainer Marsha Barrs. “This horse really ran a terrific race even though we had to miss a work. We got knocked off the Derby trail after the Private Terms but after some time off he’s back to his old self and our long-range options include the Preakness, pending how he comes out of this race today.”
Hamp snaps six-race losing streak
Hamp, winless in his last six starts dating back to last July, outfought Roadhog in deep stretch to prevail by a head in the $100,000 Henry Clark Stakes for older turf horses.
Ridden by Javier Santiago, Hamp ($18.80) completed a mile on firm turf in 1:39.66 to win for the fourth time in 16 career starts for Sagamore Farm and trainer Ignacio Correas.
“I was watching the race with a friend and when they got to the three-eighths pole, I said ‘I think we got them.’ I just hoped he didn’t have to go too wide,” Correas said. “I told Javier to make sure he was behind horses and keep him covered up as long as you can. When I saw that pace I got really excited. I knew he was going to be running at the end.”
Hamp, a son of Sky Mesa, spent the winter racing at Gulfstream Park, where he most recently rallied from 10th in the final furlong to miss by three-quarters of a length. His last win came in a second-level optional $30,000 claimer last summer at Colonial Downs.
Winning Image, Black go out as winners
Winning Image, making the final start of her career, shot to the lead and withstood a late challenge from Red’s Round Table to capture the $100,000 Primonetta Stakes for female sprinters.
Winning jockey Tony Black, 62, said in the winner’s circle that it was likely the final ride of a career that began in 1970. Black rode Winning Image for the first time in the 7-yar-old mare’s win in the What a Summer Stakes at Laurel Park in January.
“She broke even better today than she did at Laurel,” Black said. “She brings back memories of some of the great horses I rode like Dainty Dotsie and My Juliet.”
A daughter of Southern Image trained by Michael Aro for Martin Scafidi, Winning Image ($9.40) winds up her career with 13 wins in 27 starts and earnings of $650,137. She completed six furlongs in 1:12.16 and finished a half-length in front of Red’s Round Table.
Knit One Purr Too wins on short rest
Knit One Purr Too, coming back just eight days after narrowly losing to older horses, wore down pacesetter Hot Squeeze to score a neck victory in the $100,000 Stormy Blues Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Never worse than second in five career starts, Knit One Purr Too ($13.60), ridden by Grant Whitaker, ran five furlongs on firm turf in 59.65 seconds. In her turf debut on April 11, Knit One Purr Too, a daughter of Tale of the Cat owned by PTK LLC, dueled up front before missing by a half-length.
“I wouldn’t have come back this quick normally but when I saw her show all that speed last week against those good older fillies and mares I thought this was a great spot for straight 3-year olds,” trainer Dane Kobiskie said. “She’s bred for nothing but turf and you’re so limited with straight three-year old filly sprint turf stakes that I really couldn’t let this opportunity get by.”
Hot Squeeze, who made her season debut at Keeneland earlier this month, was also second in last fall’s Selima on turf. Miss Behaviour, winner of the Grade 2 Matron on dirt last fall, finished three lengths farther back in third in her turf debut. Sweet Emma Rose finished sixth of seven as the 4-5 favorite.