Crucero upsets wayward Going Somewhere in San Juan Capistrano

Crucero upsets wayward Going Somewhere in San Juan
Capistrano

The 23-1 Crucero wheeled back on a week’s rest to earn his first win outside of maiden claiming company (Benoit Photo) Six days before the long-awaited return of Texas Red (Afleet Alex) in the July 4 Dwyer (G3) at Belmont, the Desormeaux brothers successfully teamed up with Big Chief Racing’s Crucero (Admiral’s Cruise) for a 23-1 upset of the $150,500 San Juan Capistrano (G3) at Santa Anita. Crucero, whose only prior win came in a $20,000 maiden claimer on the dirt here in February, outfinished the wayward 3-5 favorite Going Somewhere (Sulamani) in the nation’s longest graded turf event. Going Somewhere lived up to his name, especially if posed as a question, by drifting out turning into the homestretch for the first time in the about 1 3/4-mile marathon. After maintaining the early lead through splits of :25, :49 4/5 and 1:14 3/5 on the firm turf, he took the scenic route out wide again rounding the clubhouse turn. That allowed Tiz Futurity (Tizbud) to sneak through on the rail and take over, doling out fractions of 1:41 and 2:06 4/5. All the while, Crucero was perfectly placed in a ground-saving third by Hall of Fame rider Kent Desormeaux. Going Somewhere reasserted himself swinging for home through 1 1/2 miles in 2:32 3/5. But by that point, Crucero and Decisive Edge (Bernardini) had both tipped out for clear running room and arrived on the scene. Crucero stayed on relentlessly down the stretch and bested Going Somewhere by a measured neck. The Keith Desormeaux charge clocked 2:49 2/5 and fueled a $48.40 win mutuel.

Decisive Edge yielded late for third, a further 1 1/4 lengths back. Golden
Soul (Perfect Soul) got up for fourth, and Tiz Futurity checked in sixth of
seven.

Crucero was wheeling back just one week after a second-place effort in an
entry-level allowance over 1 1/4 grassy miles. The trainer/jockey tandem believe
that helped take the over-eagerness out of the bay, who had failed to relax when
last of five in the May 24 Charles Whittingham (G2) two starts back.

“Keith prepped him in a mile and a quarter race just (seven) days ago and I
think he was a better horse today because of it,” the Hall of Fame rider said.
“He was aggressive last time and he just cantered around the racetrack today and
had tons left down the lane.

“It didn’t play out exactly like I thought it would but I liked my position
throughout the race, was happy with my situation until the three-eighths pole,
but got outrun by Decisive Edge and Flavien Prat from the three-eighths pole to
the quarter-pole when they engaged from the inside but they couldn’t sustain
that move and Crucero did.

“Some horses want a mile and three quarters; he could run two miles. He
should probably live in Europe where they run that distance often. America needs
some more two-mile races.”

His trainer brother still had to persuade himself to run Crucero back on
short rest.

“The typical signs after a horse runs a tough race are, they come out of the
feed tub, they might not have as much enthusiasm during training, they lose a
little weight; typical stuff, and he didn’t show any of those signs during the
week,” Keith Desormeaux said. “I did the best I could to convince myself not to
run back in a week.

“But this race stared me in the face, a mile and three-quarters, and with
that long, lumbering stride he has, plus the fact that he can cover it so well,
I just had to do it.

“I just told Kent in the paddock that it’s all about putting the horse to
sleep the first part of the race. It doesn’t matter if they run the half in :46
or :51, it’s how well your horse is relaxed during the first part of the race.
It’s of ultimate importance in a mile and three-quarter race, and that’s exactly
what he did; he put him to sleep.”

Going Somewhere (right) was afflicted by trouble with his bit (Benoit Photo) The trainer also graciously acknowledged that Going Somewhere’s woes played to Crucero’s advantage. “Definitely (Going Somewhere’s getting out on the turns) helped us out,” he said. The reason for Going Somewhere’s behavior was soon revealed by trainer Neil Drysdale. “We had trouble with the bit, we had the wrong bit on him,” the Hall of Famer said. “He ran dynamite considering Mike (Smith) couldn’t steer him.” Crucero nearly doubled his earnings to $190,380 from his 17-2-5-5 line. Claimed by his current connections for $40,000 off an 11-month layoff January 16, he was previously campaigned by Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler — who just won Saturday’s Gold Cup (G1) with Hard Aces (Hard Spun), and have also connected recently with June 13 Shoemaker Mile (G1) victor Talco (Pivotal) and June 20 Summertime Oaks (G2) heroine Stellar Wind (Curlin).

Bred by Santa Cruz Ranch in Florida, Crucero raced twice in his home state
for original trainer Juan Rizo before heading west. The May 22 foal is out of
the Saint Ballado mare Saint Gal. One has to go back to his fourth dam, Grade 2
victress Glenaris (Sassafras), to find a black-type stakes winner.

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