'Kid Cruz'-es to Easy Goer Victory

Vina Del Mar Thoroughbreds and Black Swan Stable's Kid Cruz cruised to a solid victory in the $150,000 Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont Park.

True to style, Kid Cruz settled at the back of the pack, about eight lengths off of the lead. Under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., the "Kid" saved ground along the rail and found room to rally on the outside at the top of the stretch and took control.

Life in Shambles challenged Howl for the early lead, setting a blistering pace of :22.68, :45.68 and 1:10.18. Howl faded in the turn and Life in Shambles could not hold off Legend's bid for second place, but held on well to finish third.

Kid Cruz drew off to win by three lengths, stopping the clock for 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.12.

Trained by Linda Rice, Kid Cruz improves his career record to four wins and a second from seven starts with earnings of more than $250,000. Coming off of an eighth-place finish in the Preakness Stakes, this is the 3-year-old colt's first win at Belmont Park.

Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, Kid Cruz is by Lemon Drop Kid, out of the Tale of the Cat dam Layreebelle.

The winner was sent off as the second choice, behind the wagering favorite Legend, and paid $8.90 for the win, $4.10 to place and $2.90 for show.

Kid Cruz's connections are already eyeing a start in the Grade 2, Dwyer Stakes on July 5, according to his trainer.

"This is terrific. He needed it, we needed it, and we want to keep him going in the right direction. When they put up the first quarter in :22 3/5, and the half in 45 and change, I thought it was our race to lose," Rice said. "He made an inside-outside move. In the past, he's been making a big, sweeping move and losing ground on the turn, but  [jockey] Irad [Ortiz] saved ground on the inside, made the inside-outside move, and then when I saw the half, it was our race to lose."

Ortiz, likewise, was pleased with his trip. "I had horse, and, when I asked him, he took off. I just had to find a spot and get out," he said after the race.