2003 Sunshine Millions

Saturday, January 25, 2003

Take Crackup Seriously

Crackup
Henna Haroon Coady Photo

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 19, 2002) -- He’s already won stakes at 1 1/16 miles and seven furlongs. So defeating Crackup in the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Dash at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25 may be no laughing matter.

The son of Kentucky stallion Distorted Humor won the California Cup Juvenile around two Santa Anita turns in November, then validated owner Stan Fulton’s late decision to send him to the inaugural Great State Challenge by capturing the seven-furlong Juvenile Stakes at Sam Houston Park on Dec. 7.

“I don’t feel any distance will be a problem with him,” trainer Rafael Becerra said of his star pupil. “Every time I work him, he gives a good kick at the end. I feel real good about his future.”

Brian Boudreau of Malibu Valley Farms in Calabasas, who bred Crackup in partnership with Arthur and Mary Alisi, sent his unraced Habitony mare Lightly Go Lightly to Kentucky to mate with Distorted Humor. Boudreau, who cut his teeth in the horse business in Kentucky, is a longtime friend of Jack Preston, who raced Distorted Humor and 1998 Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop.

The Preston family used to operate Prestonwood Farm in Versailles, Ky., before it was renamed WinStar. Two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic champion Tiznow is one of WinStar’s prized stallions.

My Glamorous One, another Malibu Valley broodmare, produced Humorous Lady after being bred to Distorted Humor, who is a son of 1988 2-year-old Eclipse champion Forty Niner.

“When I get an empty mare or one coming off the track, I breed her in Kentucky and bring her back here to foal,” Boudreau said.

Crackup has packed a lot of accomplishment into a short time. He made his career debut in a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight race at Del Mar on Aug. 18, running second to Siberland. The latter went on to capture the I’m Smokin Stakes at the seaside course.

After breaking his maiden next time out, Crackup ran third to Excessive Barb in the Cavonnier Stakes at Santa Anita. Since then, the joke has been on his opponents.
-- Larry Bortstein