Refuse to Lose

April 18, 2017

Thoroughbred Daily News (TDN)

7th-GP, $36,000, Msw, 4-16, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:41.41, fm. CRUZ DIEZ (c, 3, Lookin At Lucky--Miss Wineshine {SW & GISP, $189,080}, by Wolf Power {SAf}) never lifted a hoof when ninth in a main-track affair Feb. 18 that produced 'TDN Rising Star' and GII Louisiana Derby runner-up Patch (Union Rags) as well as Saturday's promising Keeneland maiden breaker Take Your Guns (Blame). He woke up over the local lawn to be fourth at 26-1 Mar. 25, and was 6-1 to continue his upward trajectory into the winner's circle this time around. Extremely hesitant to leave the gate and a long way last early, the grey began to pick off foes down the backside and was all the way into fourth while out the clear hitting the second bend. He was one of five or six in with a chance as heads pointed for home, and ground down favored Hieroglyphics (Pioneerof the Nile) to prevail by a head. Cruz Diez is a half to Mayor Marv (Distorted Humor), SW, $151,758; and Midnight Hawk (Midnight Lute), GSW, $591,750. His 2-year-old Shackleford half-brother was a $55,000 KEESEP yearling. Sales history: $170,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP; $190,000 RNA 2yo '16 BARMAR. Lifetime Record: 3-1-0-0, $23,880. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Global Thoroughbred; B-Lantern Hill Farm LLC (KY); T-Gustavo Delgado