Broekhuis Stables' Booze Cruzin, the 2007 winner of the Windy City Pace at Maywood Park, will make his 2009 debut on Friday night when he takes on seven rivals in a $9,500 conditioned event
. The multiple stakes winning son of Arts Conquest is the 2-1 morning line favourite despite coming back from a four month hiatus.
After putting together a record of 6-5-8 in 30 starts and racking up more than $240,000 in earnings while facing some of North America’s top pacers during his four-year-old season trainer Joe Seekman figured his prize pupil was due for a little rest.
“Making that many starts against that type of competition can take a toll on a horse,” said Seekman. “We gave him 45 days off in the field and started back with him around the first of the year. He seems to be refreshed and ready to go again.”
After an inconspicuous two-year-old season that saw him win just once in 14 starts, Booze Cruzin has really excelled over the past two years. The winner of last year’s Tony Maurello Stake on Super Night at Balmoral Park has accumulated more than $592,000 in earnings over the past two seasons while taking a career mark of 1:49 on the Crete oval.
In preparation for his 2009 debut the bay gelding tuned up with a 3-¼ length triumph in 1:57.1 in a qualifier at Balmoral which seemed to please Seekman.
“I was very happy with the way he raced in that qualifier,” he commented. “He won the race on the front end despite some pretty tough conditions that morning. It was cold, damp and very windy so I was very pleased that he raced so well.”
After Friday’s start at Maywood, Booze Cruzin is scheduled to head east, where he’ll once again come face to face with some of North America’s top pacers in the George Morton Levy Series at Yonkers Raceway.
“Heading to New York early in the year is about the only change we’ve made in his schedule,” Seekman said. “If all goes as planned he’ll pretty much be on the same schedule as last year and we’ll be back here in Chicago with him sometime in May.”
(Balmoral Park)