In Sharper Focus–J to the Croft
by Alan Carasso
As the crow flies, it’s not all that far from Northern New Jersey to Aqueduct Racetrack, but traffic in Metro NYC is always a bit of a crapshoot. It took owner Michael Harrison, who in partnership with Joe Trunfio race as Koolmen Racing Stable LLC, some 2 1/2 hours to make the journey to see his debuting J to the Croft, but after seeing the colt cross the line first, Harrison admitted, “It absolutely was worth the trip.”
Harrison and Trunfio bred J to the Croft from their successful racemare A to the Croft (Menifee), who graduated in her first career start and was second in the GII Adirondack S., the GI Spinaway S. and the GI Alcibiades S. at age two for trainer Ken McPeek. The chestnut would go on to win a pair of allowance raced in her 3-year-old season and was retired to stud with earnings of $295,683.
The partners sent their mare to Distorted Humor in 2009 and to Curlin in 2010, and foaled a chestnut colt by the Lane’s End sire Apr. 20, 2011. Harrison and Trunfio sent their youngster to the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale the following summer and went with the highest of expectations, only to buy him back when bidding stalled out at $185,000.
“We didn’t think we were getting enough money for him, so we just decided to keep him,” Harrison explained, adding that the colt was “$15,000-$20,000 off his reserve.”
After enduring some minor physical issues during his 2-year-old season, J to the Croft was prepped in Florida and was eventually turned over to Midlantic-based trainer Steve Klesaris.
“For us, it was a better choice, because Ken runs in Kentucky primarily and we didn’t really get to to see our horses, so it was a decision we just felt we had to make,” Harrison explain when prompted on the decision to go local. “We’ve been really thrilled with what Steve has done and also with what Todd Quast has done getting the horse ready down in Florida. He’s done a fabulous job, it’s been a real team effort.”
From a morning line of 5-1, J to the Croft drifted all the way out to the 16-1 longest shot in the field.
“It’s so hard to tell what a first-timer is going to go off at,” Harrison stated. “Steve manages expectations, he doesn’t get too high on any horse, so you really have no idea. I’m not a big bettor anyways, so I’m certainly not going to change the odds. If anyone is listening to Steve, he’s telling them that he’s done everything right in the morning. He’s not the kind of trainer that says, ‘you’ve got a monster,’ he just doesn’t do that. So your expectations aren’t too high and that’s probably a good thing.
He continued, “We knew that he had done everything right, he’s a smart colt and calm. You’re never sure really how much ability they have until they run, and he certainly showed some ability today. We’re very pleased.”
The product of a sire and dam who showed plenty of aptitude going a route of ground, J to the Croft should handle it as well, Harrison surmised.
“I don’t see why he wouldn’t,” he said. “The Curlins seem to like to go a distance. Curlin is more known for his distance runners anyways.”
A to the Croft was barren for the most recent breeding season, but is scheduled to be bred later this week to Lemon Drop Kid. “Lemon Drop Kid has been a very nice sire, and since we’re not looking to sell the horse, I think Lemon Drop Kid is a good choice for us,” Harrison submits. A to the Croft currently is the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Blame named Mr Reid and has a “very nice” yearling colt by Hard Spun.