Crucero Pulls Upset in San Juan Capistrano

A week after he ran second in an allowance/optional claiming event, Big Chief Racing's Crucero stunned the field in the $150,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes (gr. IIIT) , besting odds-on favorite Going Somewhere by a neck in the 1 3/4-mile grass race June 28 at Santa Anita Park.



Off at 23-1 odds, the 5-year-old son of Admiral's Cruise stalked the early leaders, Going Somewhere and Tiz Futurity, from third with jockey Kent Desormeaux and surged four wide on the final turn to outfinish the favorite to the wire, covering the distance in 2:49.46 over a turf course rated firm.



"Some horses want a mile and three-quarters," Desormeaux said. "He could run two miles. He should probably live in Europe, where they run that distance often. America needs more two-mile races."



Trainer Keith Desormeaux wasn't dissuaded by the quick turnaround, even though Crucero was second in a 1 1/4-mile event on the previous Sunday and was fifth, 7 1/2 lengths behind third-place finisher Going Somewhere in the 1 1/2-mile Charles Whittingham Stakes (gr. IIT) May 24.



"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," Keith Desormeaux said. "And with that long, lumbering stride he has, plus the fact that he can cover it so well, I just had to do it."



The winner also benefitted from an awkward trip by Going Somewhere and jockey Mike Smith. After maintaining an early lead coming down Santa Anita's downhill turf course, Going Somewhere drifted out crossing over the dirt and into the stretch the first time, then drifted out again in the second turn, temporarily losing the lead to Tiz Futurity. The pair ran a half-mile in :49.91, six furlongs in 1:14.65, and a mile in 1:41.11.



"I just told Kent in the paddock that it's all about putting the horse to sleep the first part of the race," Keith Desormeaux said. "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... He put him to sleep."



The lost ground was likely the difference in the race and it was later revealed by trainer Neil Drysdale that Going Somewhere was equipped with the wrong bit.



"We had trouble with the bit (and) we had the wrong bit on him," Drysdale said. "He ran dynamite, considering Mike couldn't steer him."



The winner paid $48.40, $10, and $4.20. Going Somewhere delivered $2.40 and $2.10, while Decisive Edge, who was 1 1/4 lengths back in third, brought $3 to show.



Bred in Florida by Santa Cruz Ranch, out of the Saint Ballado mare Saint Gal, Crucero was a $40,000 claim as a maiden from a mile dirt race in January. He broke his maiden at the $20,000 level a start later, but Keith Desormeaux retained him. The San Juan Capistrano was his second career victory from 17 starts.



Golden Soul rallied to finish fourth, followed by Customer Base, Tiz Futurity, and Patriots Rule to complete the order of finish.