Kid Cruz needs a bit more time

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though Kid Cruz is progressing well, trainer Linda Rice doesn’t think he will be ready to run this coming weekend.

Sidelined since August, when he came out of a fourth-place finish in the Travers with a knee chip, Kid Cruz worked six furlongs in 1:15.25 Sunday morning over the Belmont Park training track. It was his fifth work for his return and second at six furlongs. Rice had targeted next Monday’s $100,000 Evening Attire Stakes at Aqueduct, but said it’s unlikely Kid Cruz would run.

“That’s the race I was trying to make, but I don’t feel like we’re quite ready,” Rice said. “He’s getting closer.”

Rice said she hasn’t ruled it out, but said, “It’s not a probability.”

Rice also had Kid Cruz nominated to Saturday’s $100,000 John B. Campbell Stakes at Laurel Park, but that’s probably out as well. The Campbell is at 1 1/8 miles while the Evening Attire is at 1 1/16 miles.

If Rice elects to skip this weekend’s races, she would point Kid Cruz to the $100,000 Stymie on March 22 at Aqueduct, but she said she’d like to find a spot before then for the son of Lemon Drop Kid.