Bridget’s Big Luvy wins Private Terms Stakes in the mud

Laurel, MD (SportsNetwork.com) – Bridget’s Big Luvy, ridden by Angel Cruz, once again was found liking an off-track as the colt set the entire pace to win Saturday’s $100,000 Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park.

Trained by Jeremiah Englehart for Tom O’Grady, Bridget’s Big Luvy broke from the outside post in the six-horse field of 3-year-olds and went right to the lead in the 1 1/8-mile Private Terms over a muddy Laurel Park surface.

Bridget’s Big Luvy, in just his fifth career start, glided over the muddy track on the front end. The colt, sent off at 6-1, continued with very little challenge down the stretch and posted a 2 1/2-length victory over 2-1 second choice Bodhisattva.

“When we got to the front,” said Cruz, “we got there so easy. He was really relaxed all the way, and coming out of the last turn he just kept going. I looked back and said, ‘Oh, my gosh. ‘ He galloped out really well. I think that he can go a longer distance. When I got to the stretch I kept waiting and waiting, and kept going and going.”

Net Gain, the 13-10 favorite, finished third followed by Slick William, Combat Diver and Now We Are Free.

The time for the Private Terms was 1:51.92.

Bridget’s Big Luvy nearly doubled his earnings with the $60,000 he pocketed for winning the Private Terms. The colt registered his second win in five starts and has banked $125,605.

In three starts as a 2-year-old, Bridget’s Big Luvy was fourth at Saratoga and fifth at Belmont Park followed by his maiden win on Oct. 24 at Belmont. In his only prior 2015 start the colt finished a distant fifth in Gulfstream Park’s Hutcheson Stakes on Jan. 24.

“I always thought he was a pretty nice horse,” Englehart said. “The first two times in New York he ran against some pretty nice horses. We always thought he would stretch out. He was never comfortable in Florida handling the heat. We worked him in blinkers in his last two breezes. Even though we worked him we weren’t sure we were going to run him with them. We didn’t want him to be too keen early. But Angel gave him a super ride.”

Bridget’s Big Luvy returned $15.20, $4.80 and $3.60. Bodhisattva paid $3.80 and $2.40, Net Gain paid $2.10 to show.

Categorized in: Horses