Kid Cruz takes step toward Preakness in Federico Tesio Stakes

His last-to-first victory in the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park had the connections of Kid Cruz briefly flirting with the Kentucky Derby.

But a physical issue prevented Kid Cruz from making the Wood Memorial on April 5 and now his connections have turned their sights on a possible start in the Preakness Stakes on May 17.

Saturday, Kid Cruz will attempt to take a step toward the Preakness when he returns to Maryland to run in the $100,000 Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico. The Tesio, run at 1 1/16 miles, is one of four stakes on an 11-race card that begins at 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Kid Cruz was claimed by Linda Rice on behalf of Vina Del Mar Thoroughbreds for $50,000 on Nov. 22. He ran second to Undertaker – also in this field – in a first-level allowance race at Aqueduct on Jan. 26 before his eye-catching run in the Private Terms when he rallied from more than 20 lengths back to win by four lengths. In between the allowance loss and the Private Terms, Kid Cruz’s original owners, Black Swan Stable, bought a minority interest in the son of Lemon Drop Kid.

Kid Cruz came out of the Private Terms with a shoulder issue that was likely caused by a pinched nerve at the base of his neck, according to Rice.

Rice believes Kid Cruz is over his physical issues though the horse won’t have a published workout since April 2.

“When I ran him in the Private Terms, I skipped a breeze before the race too,” Rice said. “I felt he gets enough out of his training. He wasn’t carrying any extra weight; I left him alone and he ran great.”

Kid Cruz will break from post 7 under Julian Pimentel.

After Undertaker beat Kid Cruz on Jan. 26, his trainer, John Servis, had targeted the Grade 3 Gotham on March 1. But a quarantine situation at Parx, where Undertaker is based, prevented him from being able to ship. Instead, Undertaker ran in a classified allowance where he was beaten a neck by Charleymillionaire.

“It was a speed-favoring track but we thought it would be possible to rate him,” Servis said. “He ran very well, but we let Charleymillionaire get away with a 24-and-3 first quarter. Turning for home, he got to laying on him and he still ran a little green.”

Oliver Zip won the Fred “Cappy” Capossela Stakes going six furlongs at Aqueduct on March 8 and then was beaten a nose by Coup de Grace in the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes at seven furlongs.

“Off of what he showed in his last race going seven-eighths, we want to try to stretch him out,” Oliver Zip’s trainer, Kelly Breen, said. “This is a good opportunity to try. It was a nice race and he showed off of that race that we may have an option of rating him.”

Though he named Pimentel to ride, Breen said he expects Sheldon Russell to be on Oliver Zip in the Federico Tesio.

Joint Custody, a multiple stakes winner, finished second to Kid Cruz in the Private Terms after opening up a 2 1/2-length lead in midstretch. Matuszak, third in the Private Terms, is in this field as are the maiden Sassicaia, Elevated, Ground Control, and Mr. Rover.