Trainer Todd Pletcher admitted he had been looking forward to seeing how 3-year-old CRUDO performed when he had a two-turn opportunity, and the son Justify demonstrated that he was completely comfortable.  CRUDO finished fourth in his February debut at Gulfstream after a troubled trip, then came back at Keeneland to win a seven-furlong maiden special by 7 1/4 lengths. Jumped into stakes company in the Sir Barton S. on the Preakness undercard, CRUDO broke alertly to take then lead, maintained that advantage throughout the 1 1/16th-mile race, then drew away in the stretch to win by 7 1/2 lengths.

Raised at Stone Farm since he was a weanling, CRUDO was bred by Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt and purchased by bloodstock agent Tom McGreevy.  Racing for Bobby Flay and James Venture, CRUDO is  as a a half-brother to G1 winner Sippican Harbor and graded stakes placed Bodacious Babe, out of the Deputy Minister mare Blossomed.  He now has two wins in three starts, and Pletcher said he would not rule out entering the colt in the upcoming Belmont Stakes-G1 at Saratoga.

Here’s the link to the story in Thoroughbred Daily News:

Justify’s Well-Related Crudo Dominates From the Front In Sir Barton