Prior to gaining his second victory in four starts yesterday at Laurel Race Track, Time to Cruise had a bundle stolen from his bank account following his previous race on January 22nd.

    The 3-year-old Pennsylvania-bred colt by First Dude had finished third under Carlos Lopez only to be disqualified and placed seventh for abuse of the new – and controversial – whip rule that limits the number of times a jockey can strike his mount. Third place would have been worth $4,000; seventh was worth ZERO. 

    The aptly-named jockey – Angel Cruz – was aboard Time to Cruise for yesterday’s score at a mile and an eighth, which was worth $24,000 and increased the earnings of the $40,000 Timonium 2-year-old to $55,673. Best A Luck Farm-bred Time to Cruise paid $9.80 after he turned back 4/5 favorite Collection Day by three lengths. 

    With his 11th winner of 2023, First Dude’s runners have now won 899 races.