When Sunday’s $225,000
Kelso H.
(G3) was transferred from the Belmont Park turf onto the muddy, sealed main
track, and 4-5 morning-line favorite Court Vision (Gulch) was withdrawn, Judson
L. Streicher’s LE GRAND CRU (Dynaformer) proved best of the scratch-reduced
field to earn his first stakes score.
The one-mile Kelso was downgraded from its original Grade 2 status, pending
review by the American Graded Stakes Committee, and its utility as a prep for
the November 7 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) was also diminished.
Racing history buffs, however, must have enjoyed the ironic result, for Le
Grand Cru was handing trainer Allen Jerkens his first victory in the Kelso. The
Hall of Fame conditioner had famously sent out Beau Purple to upset the mighty
Kelso three times.
Of the five Kelso entrants, only three took part after the surface switch.
Yield Bogey (Langfuhr) led the way through splits of :24 4/5 and :48 3/5, with
Le Grand Cru just one length away in second and 3-5 favorite Ready’s Echo (More
Than Ready) another two or so lengths back in third. Le Grand Cru disposed of
Yield Bogey on the turn, getting six furlongs in 1:12 4/5, and comfortably held
off Ready’s Echo through the drive.
Ridden by Jose Lezcano, Le Grand Cru was 1 1/2 lengths in front at the wire
while stopping the teletimer in 1:37 1/5. The 6-5 second choice paid $4.50.
There was no place, show or exotic wagering. Ready’s Echo checked in 21 1/4
lengths ahead of the tailed-off Yield Bogey.
“They take the grading away when it comes off the turf, but the money’s
good,” Jerkens said. “I thought the second horse (Ready’s Echo) would be very
tough, but we were able to outgun him. We’ll take it.”
“It was an easy trip in a three-horse race,” Lezcano said. “He broke sharp,
and I thought the outside was better. When I asked him, he gave me everything he
had.”
Yorktown (Fr) (Red Ransom) was scratched, in addition to Court Vision.
Trainer Rick Dutrow revealed that Court Vision will now head to Keeneland for
Saturday’s Shadwell Turf Mile (G1), where he will get another opportunity to
audition for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Oak Tree.
With his $150,000 payday, Le Grand Cru increased his earnings to $247,078
from his 12-3-3-1 line. After finally clearing his entry-level allowance
condition by five lengths at this track and distance in June, the four-year-old
stepped up into stakes company, finishing fourth in the grassy Jaipur S. (G3)
and fourth again back on the main track in the Albert the Great S. Le Grand Cru
was coming off a fourth in an allowance/optional claimer on the turf.
Bred by Earle I. Mack in Kentucky, the dark bay was purchased by his current
connections for $230,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. He is out of the El
Gran Senor mare Ice the Champagne, making him a half-brother to Argentinean
Group 1 winners Ice Point (Roy) and Ice Horse (Roy). His second dam, the winning
Jamra (Icecapade), is a full sister to multiple stakes hero and successful sire
Clever Trick. This is the family of Queen’s Plate S. and Carter H. (G1) victor
Alydeed (Shadeed).