Graham 's Cruiser First Winner for Hard Aces

Graham 's Cruiser  became the first winner for Louisiana stallion Hard Aces  when he won a state-bred maiden race at Delta Downs Feb. 11.

The 3-year-old raced in fourth for the first three-eighths of a mile before gaining on the leaders and taking the lead in the final furlong. He won by three-quarters of a length, racing five furlongs in 1:00.78 under C. J. McMahon. He earned $22,800 for winning the $38,000 race.

The gelding, who finished seventh in his only prior start Jan. 21 at Delta Downs, is trained by Kenneth Roberts Sr. for Kenneth Roberts Racing Stables.

Wayne Schexnayder bred Graham 's Cruiser in Louisiana out of the Harborage  mare Rich Rezultz . The gelding is one of her four winners from five to race. The dam also has an unnamed yearling filly by Court Vision  .

Hard Aces, a millionaire by Hard Spun  , won the 2015 Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1) in his top achievement for owner Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler. In subsequent years, he added the 2016 Cougar II Handicap (G3) at Del Mar and the 2017 Tokyo City Cup Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.

He was retired after running 11th in the Berkeley Handicap (G3) at Golden Gate Fields in November 2017 and went to stud the following year at Averett Farm in Louisiana. He currently stands there for a $2,000 fee.