Todd Pletcher trainee Crudo dominated his competition with a commanding 7 1/4-length victory in a $110,000 maiden special weight at Keeneland on April 19, redeeming himself after a disappointing debut at Gulfstream Park.
The 3-year-old Justify colt, sent off as the overwhelming 44-100 favorite, broke sharply from the gate and immediately established control of the seven-furlong contest. Under John Velazquez, Crudo set a swift opening quarter in :24.02 while maintaining a comfortable advantage throughout.
Velazquez kept the talented colt under wraps around the turn before asking for more in the stretch. Crudo responded emphatically, drawing away with ease to complete the distance in 1:28.47 on a fast track.
The victory marked a significant improvement from his February 8 debut at Gulfstream, where he encountered early trouble and faded in the stretch despite being positioned to win as the odds-on choice.
Crudo, who commanded $350,000 as a Keeneland November weanling purchase, boasts an impressive pedigree. He is a full brother to Japanese multiple stakes winner Awesome Result, who remains undefeated through eight career starts with earnings exceeding $1.1 million after capturing the Listed Queen Sho at Funabashi in February.
His notable half-siblings include graded stakes-placed Bodacious Babe, dam of recent Heavenly Cause Stakes winner Royal Spa; UAE stakes winner Saayedd; and Grade 1 winner Sippican Harbor.
The colt campaigns for the partnership of James Ventura and B Flay Thoroughbreds. He was bred in Kentucky by Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt and was later offered at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale, where he failed to meet his reserve at $520,000.
With this maiden-breaking victory, Crudo improved his career record to 1-0-0 from two starts with earnings of $70,148.
Check out 👀 CRUDO ($2.88)! Wow!@ljlmvel was on board the three-year-old by @CoolmoreAmerica's Justify in the 2nd at @KeenelandRacing. @PletcherRacing trains the colt for James Ventura and @bflay.
Action right here 👉 https://t.co/XjcuFHFoEq pic.twitter.com/qjYEQFYwDL
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing)
Check out 👀 CRUDO ($2.88)! Wow!April 19, 2025
