Crupi Seeks Another Grade 2 Win in Woodward at Aqueduct

It's taken a while but the 4-year-old colt Crupi  is finally living up to his name.

In searching for a way to honor the highly respected late Florida horseman J.J. Crupi, owners Mike Repole (Repole Stable) and Vinnie Viola (St. Elias Stables) and trainer Todd Pletcher thought they had the right choice in a son of Curlin   bred by Claiborne Farm they bought for $275,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Yet the tale of Crupi was not an instant success story. He lost his first five starts, all in maiden company, finishing second twice and third three times.

His connections were undaunted and ran him in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) and Wood Memorial (G2), where he was seventh and then ninth.

He finally posted a win in his eighth career start and since then has been justifying the high hopes for him.

He heads into the Sept. 28 Woodward Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack as a grade 2 winner and a top contender in Saturday's $400,000 stakes off a second last time out in the prestigious Whitney Stakes (G1).

"I thought he ran really well in the Whitney and was a good second," Pletcher said. "He seems like he's improved this year, as we thought he would. He's always run well here at Aqueduct and hopefully he does that again. I think he's getting into the race a little better and has had more experience."

Crupi, a winner of 5 of 17 starts including the Suburban Stakes (G2), has eclipsed the million-dollar mark with $1,091,750 in earnings.

A field of five was entered in the 1 1/8-mile prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) but Kay Army  is not expected to run.

The other expected starters are grade 1 winner Tapit Trice  (Tapit  ), multiple graded stakes winner Skippylongstocking  (Exaggerator ), and grade 3 winner Masqueparade  (Upstart  ).

Vosburgh attracts a field of seven

The $250,000 Vosburgh Stakes (G3) on Saturday's card at the Big A offers a free, "Win and You're In" spot in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) thanks to the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The big question is will someone use it?

The seven-furlong stakes attracted a field of seven with Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, and Jerold Zaro's Baby Yoda  (Prospective ) the lone 2024 graded stakes winner in the lineup.

And the ultimate hunch play for Star Wars fans has lost by a combined 17 lengths in his two starts since a June 8 win in the True North Stakes (G2) at 9-1 odds.

Bill Mott, who trains Baby Yoda, will also send out LNJ Foxwoods' impressive allowance optional claimer winner Scotland  (Good Magic  ).

Dean Delivers  (Cajun Breeze  ) boasts the best form with four straight wins, all in ungraded stakes at Mid-Atlantic tracks.

"He was sent up to me from Florida after getting a little freshening," trainer Ned Allard said about the 5-year-old gelding. "It was getting a little hot in Florida and he's really blossomed. After he got here, the cooler weather really made him feel good. He's just run super every time I've run him."

Comedy Town  (Speightstown) has won three starts in a row, capped by the Benny The Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park.