Overlooked as the 7-1 longest shot among five runners, Judson L. Streicher’s
LE GRAND CRU (Dynaformer) made it two straight graded stakes wins in a row when
capturing Saturday’s $147,000
Bold
Ruler H. (G3) by a half-length over Past the Point (Indian Charlie). Trained
by Allen Jerkens, the four-year-old colt garnered his previous stakes victory by
convenient circumstances in the off-the-turf Kelso H. (G3), but he proved no
fluke when completing seven furlongs in 1:22 over the fast Aqueduct track
Saturday under Jose Lezcano.
“That race the last time (Kelso) gave him confidence,” Jerkens explained.
“The jockey is riding him good, too…it was a team effort. I thought he was a
shorter price than he was on the board. I looked and thought, ‘Gee, he’s the
least thought-of all the horses in here?’ But I’m not a very good handicapper.
The great Hirsch Jacobs used to say, ‘It’s better to be surprised than
disappointed.'”
Le Grand Cru, who returned $17.80, $6.60 and $2.80, stalked behind early
splits in :22 2/5 and :44 4/5 before making his move to grab a narrow lead at
the top of the stretch, and gamely withstood the rally of Past the Point, who
had the length of the stretch to get past the winner. The runner-up was off as
the 2-1 second choice and paid $3.50 and $2.30. It was three-quarters of a
length back to early pacesetter and 2-1 favorite Sing Baby Sing (Unbridled’s
Song), who yielded $2.10, and another four lengths to fourth-placer Cherokee
Country (Yonaguska). Lucky Island (Arg) (Lucky Roberto), the defending champion,
was involved early but faded badly to last. Gold Trippi (Trippi) was scratched
in favor of Wednesday’s Half High S.
The exotics totaled $64 (exacta) and $140.50 (6-2-1 trifecta).
With his $90,000 payday, Le Grand Cru increased his earnings to $337,078 from
his 13-4-3-1 line. After finally clearing his entry-level allowance condition by
five lengths at Belmont 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. He won the Kelso by 1 1/2 lengths.
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).