Justify’s Crudo Impressive 7 ½ Length Sir Barton Winner
Crudo (3c Justify x Blossomed, by Deputy Minister) was another Coolmore-sired stakes winner at Pimlico this weekend when the Justify colt won the Sir Barton Stakes in his third start.
An impressive 7 ¼ length maiden winner over seven furlongs at Keeneland last out, Crudo was stepping up to 1 1/16 miles here. Breaking from the inside position, he was one of the first to the front and took a comfortable half-length lead down the backstretch.
John Velazquez kept a tight hold on his mount, looking over his shoulder as they entered the final quarter pole and shaking him up. There wasn’t much for Velazquez to do in the stretch with Crudo showing that he’s a promising runner for his connections after romping to a 7 ½ length victory with very little asked from his jockey.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for Bobby Flay and James Ventura, the Coolmore-bred colt was a $350,000 Keeneland November weanling in 2022.
He is the fourth stakes winner for the successful broodmare Blossomed, whose 10 winners also include Grade I winner Sippican Harbor and Crudo’s three-time stakes winning full sister Awesome Result in addition to being a half-brother to the stakes winning Saayeed and Grade III placed Bodacious Babe. Bodacious Babe is also the dam of stakes winner and Grade I fourth Royal Spa.
This is the 44th worldwide stakes winner for Justify, with the stallion’s May now including stakes winners in the U.S., England, and Australia and a €725,000 Arqana May Breeze Up Sale purchase in France as well.