Proud Citizen Colt Just Gets Up in Jeff Ruby Steaks

Blended Citizen (inside) | Coady Photo

Blended Citizen broke his maiden at fifth asking on the Del Mar lawn last November, and checked in fourth in Santa Anita's Eddie Logan S. Dec. 29 behind two next-out stakes winners. He tried a synthetic surface for the first time when third behind filly Paved (Quality Road) in the Feb. 17 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate, and was getting first-time blinkers in this wide-open affair.

Acting up before the latch was sprung, the bay was pushed hard from the gate to find a spot behind the leaders in the scramble into the first turn. He sat midpack in between foes down the backside, and was ridden along to get closer as El Camino Real Derby fourth Mugaritz (Dialed In) had built up a sizable advantage approaching the stretch. Staying inside as one of five or six in with a chance, he was able to sneak inside of the fading frontrunner as that one shied slightly from left-handed encouragement. Pony Up had built up a full head of steam further out, but Blended Citizen kept finding along the fence to earn the decision.

“We broke a little quicker and we were a lot closer than I expected, and I had to steady a bit because the outside horse closed in on us early in the race,” said winning pilot Kyle Frey. “I wasn't too worried about it. I pulled out of there and waited. At about the half-mile pole, it seemed like the race just started to fall apart. As things opened up, I just let Jesus take the wheel. With the way he was moving, all I needed was an opening and I got it.”

Assistant trainer Octavio Vergara added, “I knew he would run good! Last time out, he should have won the El Camino Real Derby, but he got stopped twice. Doug O'Neill sent him here to win and get into the [GI] Kentucky Derby.”

Saturday, Turfway Park
JEFF RUBY STEAKS-GIII, $202,400, TP, 3-17, 3yo, 1 1/8m (AWT), :00.00, ft.
1–BLENDED CITIZEN, 123, c, 3, by Proud Citizen
1st Dam: Langara Lass (MSW & GSP, $190,418),
by Langfuhr
2nd Dam: Capilano, by Demons Begone
3rd Dam: Bella Isabella, by Conquistador Cielo
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($57,000
RNA Ylg '16 KEESEP; $85,000 2yo '17 OBSMAR). O-Greg Hall &
Sayjay Racing, LLC; B-Ray Hanson (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill; J-Kyle
Frey. $113,000. Lifetime Record: 8-2-0-2, $167,054. *Full to
Battlefield Angel, SW & GISP, $149,030; and a half to Lookin at
Lee (Lookin at Lucky), SW & MGISP, $1,058,145. Werk Nick
Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”mulholland-springs-owns-full-sister-to-blended-citizen”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–Pony Up, 123, c, 3, Aikenite–A. P. Petal, by A.P. Indy.
O/B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $37,800.
3–Arawak, 123, c, 3, Uncle Mo–Spicy Teddy, by Spanish Steps.
($200,000 Ylg '16 FTKJUL). O-R3 Racing LLC, Steven Keh & C T R
Stables LLC; B-Parrish Hill Farm & Ashford Stud (KY); T-Wesley
A. Ward. $19,000.[bullet ad=”summerfieldsales-sold”][bullet ad=”irt-shell”]Margins: NK, 1, 1. Odds: 6.20, 6.30, 12.90.
Also Ran: Zanesville, Mugaritz, Sky Promise, Cash Call Kitten, Ride a Comet, Dreamer's Point, Magicalmeister, Archaggelos, Hazit. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

Pedigree Notes:

Blended Citizen is a half-brother to last year's late-running GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Lookin At Lee (Lookin At Lucky). His second dam was a multiple stakes winner on the Pacific Northwest/Western Canada circuit, and in addition to dam Langara Lass was also responsible for that's one's full sister and GSW Madeira Park. Langara Lass has a yearling filly by Fort Larned and was bred back to Liam's Map.

 

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