Twelve Tribes handles mud to win Luke Kruytbosch

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Twelve Tribes had posted his four wins on turf, so it was uncharted waters when he went in Wednesday’s $35,000 Luke Kruytbosch at 1 1/16 miles on the main track. He was more of a question mark when steady rains made the racetrack muddy (sealed). However, the 3-year-old gelded son of Street Cry passed the test with flying colors, proving an easy winner.

Owned by Charles Garvey and trained by Robertino Diodoro, Twelve Tribes sat last early in the field of seven. He bided his time, was asked to start his run going to the far turn by rider Geovanni Franco, stayed wide and in the clear, and splashed past his rivals to win going away by 2 1/4 lengths.

Taelyns Prince stalked the pace, had traffic issues in midstretch, but got going again to finish a clear second, while Edison came up the rail to get third. This Cat’s Awesome, the 9-5 favorite in the field of seven, pressed the pace but weakened in the lane, finishing sixth.

Twelve Tribes ($9.40) ran the distance in 1:43.56, and the winner’s share of $21,266 gives him earnings of $78,802 from 5 wins in 9 starts. This win gives him all sorts of options as it’s apparent he doesn’t need turf for his best.