Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Booze Cruzin Wins Debut

March 14, 2008

Illinois Horse of the Year Booze Cruzin started off his new year the same way he ended his brilliant sophomore season—with a convincing victory.

The 4-year-old Joe Seekman trainee had little trouble capturing the $14,000 ICF Open Handicap Friday night at Maywood Park in his usual front-end fashion. Sent off as the 11-10 betting favorite, Booze Cruzin sped out of the gate for Sam Widger, taking command on the backside where he would never look back.

Booze Cruzin had a four length lead at the top of the lane on Bob’s Minute Maid and his: 28.2 final quarter saw him a comfortable three and one-quarter lengths ahead at the end of a 1:54.1 mile. It was another half-length back to the third place finisher Im A Hot Sport.

“It was like the horse almost didn’t take any time off,” said Widger. “Joe did a great job with him being off three months. He brought it back ready. He qualified him twice. His qualifying times were a little deceiving because the track over there (Balmoral Park) was very deep. I thought he qualified very well.

Booze Cruzin posted 11 wins in 25 starts as a three-year-old, knocking down $350,677 in purse earnings for Holland, MI owner Broekhuis Stable. He finished first or second in 5 of his 6 Maywood starts and the gelding’s 1:51.3 victory in last October’s Windy City Pace was a stakes record.

Next up for Booze Cruzin is the Spring Pacing Championship Series at Woodbine.