Crackup Answers the Challenge

Crackup
Henna Haroon/Coady Photography

HOUSTON, Tex. (Dec. 7, 2002) - California Cup Juvenile winner Crackup turned back the challenge of a few other states Saturday, winning the $265,500 NTRA Great State Challenge Juvenile at Sam Houston Race Park.

The 2-year-old son of Distorted Humor, out of the Habitony mare Lightly Go Lightly, was bred by Malibu Valley Farms and Arthur and Mary Alisi. He was a $50,000 Barretts purchase this May by Stan Fulton, who decided Tuesday to run in the Great State Challenge Juvenile after considering the Hollywood Futurity.

Crackup was coming off an impressive two-length win in the Nov. 2 Cal Cup Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles. The Great State Challenge Juvenile was run at seven furlongs.

In the race, Crackup settled down the backstretch, swung wide into the stretch, took the lead at the eighth pole and drove to a 1 ¼ length win over Supah Blitz in 1:22.73.

Crackup went off at 6-1and won for the third time in five races, raising his earnings to $274,828. Fellow Cal-bred Only The Best, the 7-5 favorite, dueled for the early lead and faded in the stretch to finish sixth in the 10-horse field.

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