Fresh off a breakout season, Crazed gelding JL Cruze, who captivated the industry last year, recorded his first charted mile of his 2016 campaign Friday, March 11 during the morning qualifying session at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
In Race 2, JL Cruze hosted his regular pilot, John Campbell, in the sulky, and the duo started from the outside Post 7.
To make a long story short, JL Cruze trotted a two-hole trip through the fractions (:29, :56.4, 1:25.2), which were carved by the Mike Simons-driven Waiting On A Woman. JL Cruze came calling in the final quarter of the race and got up to post a nose victory in 1:54.2.
JL Cruze, who is now five, has won 21 of his 38 career starts and has finished on the board 30 times.
The multiple world recorder holder will be looking to pad his bankroll in 2016 (he has earned $662,185 to date).
He lowered his career mark to a sizzling 1:49.4 last July at the Meadowlands.
Another notable that was putting in work during the morning session was Odds On Equuleus, the now-six-year-old son of Art Major.
Odds On Equuleus was teamed with Scott Zeron, and the duo recorded a three and a quarter-length win in 1:51.2 for trainer Tony Alagna. The fractions of the race were cut in :29, :57.3 and 1:24.1.
Zeron and ‘Equuleus’ had started from Post 2 and were third at the opening quarter. They were first up in second at the half-mile call and had secured the lead by the three-quarters of a mile marker. The horse kicked home with a :27.1 final quarter.
The Friday Meadowlands qualifying session also saw victories from Open Road Hanover (1:58.3), True Blue Stride (1:58.3), Bettor N Better (1:53.3), The Real One (1:52) and Allbeef N Nobull (1:55.3).