Crude Velocity lives up to billing in Pat Day Mile

Crude Velocity came into Saturday’s $741,330 Pat Day Mile S. (G2) at Churchill Downs unbeaten in two tries and proved to be one to watch in the coming months in scoring a tough victory against pacesetter Englishman.

Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden to victory by Florent Geroux, the CSLR Racing Partners' color-bearer earned a black-type score in his initial try.

Englishman and jockey Jose Ortiz, breaking from the rail, earned the lead quickly out of the gate in this fast-track affair, posting brisk fractions of :22.06, :44.20, and 1:08.13 with the eventual winner always in hot pursuit to his outside.

As the two entered the stretch, they pulled away from the rest, making this essentially a two-horse affair as Englishman clung to a short lead past seven panels in 1:20.69.  Englishman gave it a valiant try but couldn’t quite hold off Crude Velocity, who edged clear inside the final furlong and pulled away to win by 3 3/4 widening lengths.  The final time was 1:33.87 for the one-turn test.

Stop the Car was another 2 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up and was followed by Secured Freedom, Crown the Buckeye, Creole Chrome, One More Freud, Trouble Calling, Lockstocknpharoah, Work and Baytown Dreamer.  Great White was scratched. 

Baffert justifiably is high on his pupil

“This horse is a freaky horse,” he said. “He is so talented. I was very surprised that he was able to win first out with all of the trouble he got in.  If he stays healthy, we’ll be hearing from this horse down the road.”

The Kentucky-bred Crude Velocity is from the first crop of his sire, Beau Liam, and came out of the OBS June sale last year for $250,000.  He is the first foal out of the unraced Lemon Drop Kid mare Sweetnsour Kitty, who also has an unnamed yearling full sister to the Pat Day winner and a 2026 filly by Corniche.

The colt came into Saturday’s affair sporting a maiden win and a 6 3/4-length score against his elders, both at Santa Anita.  Crude Velocity has so far amassed $522,820 in earnings.

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