Florida-bred Smooth Cruisein Looks for First Stakes Win

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred Roll On Big Joe, a winner of four of five races this year including victories in two graded stakes, returns to his base in Southern California for the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar. The 5-year-old gelding trained by Bob Hess Jr., will be joined by fellow Florida-bred Smooth Cruisein in the $400,000 Bing Crosby in the field of nine 3-year-olds and older going six furlongs.

Roll On Big Joe has had a break out year for owners Rancho Temescal LLC, Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, White Fence LLC and Richard Hale Jr., having won the Grade 3 Palos Verdes at Santa Anita in February and the Grade 3 Kelly’s Landing at Churchill Downs in his last out on June 28.

After winning a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming at Santa Anita in January, Roll On Big Joe powered to a four-length domination of the Palos Verdes, covering six furlongs in 1:08.60 for a 102 Beyer Speed Figure. Hess then sent him to Keeneland for a $175,000 optional claiming on April 13 but he finished second to multiple graded stakes-placed Top Gunner in his only loss of the year. He remained in Kentucky to win a $175,000 optional claiming at Churchill on May 16 before taking the Kelly’s Landing by a neck ahead of Bing Crosby foe Dr. Venkman.

 

Roll On Big Joe has a career record of seven wins, six seconds and a third in 17 starts with earnings of $494,400. Tim Cohen purchased Roll on Big Joe for $90,000 under his Rancho Temescal banner at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale where he was consigned by Gayle Woods. He is out of Nina’s Gift, by Victory Gallop and was bred in Florida by Max Ubide.

Julien Leparoux, who has ridden Roll On Big Joe in his last three races, gets the return mount and they will break from post six.

Smooth Cruisein, a 3-year-old colt trained by Karen Headley, has won one of four races this year but fits into this field after finishing third behind winner Nysos in the Grade 3 Triple Bend going seven furlongs at Santa Anita on May 31. Dr. Venkman was second in the Triple Bend.

His victory came two starts back when nearly two lengths the best against a first level, $50,000 optional claiming group of 3-year-olds and older going six furlongs over a sloppy track at Santa Anita on April 26. He started the year on the Triple Crown trail, finishing fourth in the Grade 2 San Vicente won by Barnes and fifth in the Journalism’s San Felipe (G2) going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on March 1.

 

Smooth Cruisein has two wins in five career outings with one third while banking $99,000 for Matson Racing, Sandra L. Brown, Elise Naify and Marsha Naify. He twice passed through the auction ring at OBS, first as yearling when Summer Mayberry took him for $41,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2023 October Yearling Sale. He did not meet his reserve at last year’s OBS March Sale.

Kyle Frey has the riding assignment on Smooth Cruisein from post four.

In addition to Dr. Venkman, who will be ridden from post two by Antonia Fresu, the Bing Crosby field includes Crazy Mason with jockey Christopher Elliott, Hejazi has Juan Hernandez named to ride, World Record will have Flavien Prat in the saddle, Mbagnick (Chi) with Armando Ayuso up, Spirit of Makena has Abel Cedillo taking the call and Geovanni Franco rides Lovesick Blues.

Return to the July 24 issue of Wire to Wire