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Tucson Takes Thursday’s Crestwood Purse

WinStar Farm and Rock Ridge Racing’s Tucson made a three-wide move at the top of the stretch and drew off to post a 2 3/4-length victory in the $130,000 Crestwood Purse for 4-year-olds and up Thursday afternoon. (Click here for a video of the race.)

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Tucson completed the 1½ miles over a firm turf course in 2:28.52.

Tucson, who sold for $1.3 million at Keeneland’s 2022 September Yearling Sale, passed his initial grass test in winning his third consecutive start. He is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Constitution out of the Cozzene mare Cozze Up Lady.

Favored in the field of 11, Tucson returned $6.02, $4.12 and $3.50. Freedom’s Way, ridden by Luis Saez, returned $11.80 and $6.86 and finished a length in front of Mutaawid, who paid $4.08 to show under Brian Hernandez Jr.

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Racing continues Friday with a 10-race program that begins at 1 p.m. ET and features the 30th running of the $350,000 Baird Doubledogdare (G3) for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. 

Highlighting the field of seven are 2023 Eclipse Award champion 2-year-old filly Just F Y I and 2023 Darley Alcibiades (G1) winner Candied.