Kroy leads all the way in Bear's Den Stakes

Turf or dirt, it just doesn’t really matter to Kroy. Racing on dirt for the first time, Kroy led throughout under jockey Emisael Jaramillo to register a popular 1 1/2-length victory over Zipping in Sunday’s $100,000 Bear’s Den Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

The race was originally scheduled for the turf, but switched to a “good” main track due to overnight rain.

Kroy broke alertly and used his inside post to good advantage, quickly sprinting to command along the rail while attended by Zipping from the outset. Kroy set a lively pace, shook off bids from his only real nemesis at both the half-mile and quarter poles before maintaining a clear advantage to the wire.

Zipping, who hopped a bit at the start, was easily second-best, finishing 9 1/4 lengths in front of He’s the One.

General McGooby, Major Key, and Shiny Copper Penny rounded out the complete order of finish.

The win was the third in a row for Kroy, a 3-year-old son of The Factor owned by Midwest Thoroughbreds, all coming since he was equipped with blinkers for the first time earlier this summer by trainer Armando De lacerda. Kroy paid $4.00 after covering seven furlongs in a swift 1:21.69 seconds over the drying surface.