Graham’s cruiser Be the first winner for the Louisiana stallion Hard yoke when he won a state-bred maiden race in Delta Downs February 11th.
The 3-year-old raced in fourth place for the first three-eighths of the mile before taking the lead and taking the lead in the final race. He won 3/4 of the length, racing five feathers in 1:00.78 under the lead of CJ McMahon. He made $22,800 for winning the $38,000 race.
Gelding, who finished seventh in the previous single start on January 21 at Delta Downs, was coached by Kenneth Roberts Sr. for Kenneth Roberts Racing Stables.
Wayne Schexnayder bred Graham’s cruiser in Louisiana from Harbor mare Rich Rezultz . Gelding was one of her four winners from five races. The dam also has a nameless longing dam by Court Vision .
Hard Aces, a millionaire by Spin hard , won the 2015 Gold Cup at the Santa Anita Stakes (G1) in his peak performance for Hronis Racing owner and coach John Sadler. In the following years, he added the 2016 Cougar II Handicap (G3) at Del Mar and 2017 Tokyo City Cup Shares Cup (G3) at Santa Anita . Park.
He retired after running 11th in the Berkeley Handicap (G3) at Golden Gate Field in November 2017 and go to school the following year at Averett Ranch in Louisiana. He is currently standing there with a $2,000 fee.
