BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Smooth Cruisein drops a bit in class from Grade 1 company last out into the $100,000 Palos Verdes at Santa Anita Park Sunday. Most recently fifth in the seven-furlong Malibu (G1) won by Goal Oriented on December 28 at Santa Anita, the 4-year-old son of Girvin will face five other 4-year-olds and older in the six-furlong Palos Verdes.
Smooth Cruesin has shown to be effective at this level before having finished second to Citizen Bull in the $115,000 Shared Belief going a mile at Del Mar on August 31. His last victory came in April at Santa Anita against first level, $50,000 optional claimers going six furlongs in the slop, a race he won by a length-and-three-quarters.
Trained by Karen Headley, Smooth Cruesin has earned $142,500 for owner Matson Racing, Sandra L. Brown, Elise Naify and Marsha Naify. His career record stands at two wins with a second and a third in nine starts.
A two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, Smooth Cruesin did not meet his reserve in the 2024 March Sale of 2-year-olds in training when consigned by Mayberry Farm. Summer Mayberry as an agent purchased him for $41,000 out of the Summerfield consignment of Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck at the 2023 October Yearling Sale.
Smooth Cruesin has drawn post four and will be ridden by Tiago Pereira.
He will face two others who exit the Malibu in Madaket Road, who was fourth; and Modus Bestia, who was eased after stumbling at the start.
The Bob Baffert-trained Madaket Road also looks for easier rivals having raced in graded stakes in eight of his nine career starts. Four times he has finished second at that level in the 2024 Bob Hope (G3) at Del Mar; and last year in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn, Pat Day Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs and in the Woody Stephens (G1) at Saratoga.
His lone victory came second time out in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Santa Anita in December of 2024.
An earner of $580,000 for SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Bashor Racing, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan, Madaket Road will be ridden by Kazushi Kimura from the outside post six.
Prior to his difficult race in the Malibu, Modus Bestia had won two straight for trainer Richard Baltas and owners Calvin Nguyen and Joey C. Tran.
He broke his maiden going six-and-a-half furlongs against special weight rivals in his sixth start in September then took a first condition, $50,000 optional claiming going six furlongs in November, both at Del Mar.
Modus Bestia has post three and will be ridden by Antonio Fresu.
Others set for the Palos Verdes are Man O Rose with Emisael Jaramillo in the irons, Florent Geroux rides Pilot Commander and Listenupshance will have Tyler Baze riding.
Return to the February 12 issue of Wire to Wire
