Derby Dozen: Greenpointcrusader tantalizing, but questions remain

The impression Greenpointcrusader made in winning the Grade I Champagne Stakes last October resonated to where he went to post in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as the betting favorite.

The son of Bernardini disappointed that day with a seventh-place finish. But there is too much good blood in his veins and evidence of upside to dismiss this colt from the upper ranks at this point on the Kentucky Derby trail.

Out of the top producing mare Ava Knowsthecode, Greenpointcrusader is a full brother to graded stakes winner Algorithms and a half brother to graded stakes winners Justin Phillip and Keyed Entry. Both Justin Phillip and Keyed Entry were most successful as sprinters, so there is some question about how much Greenpointcrusader can stretch out.

His runner-up finish to Mohaymen in the Grade II Holy Bull Stakes was more encouraging than meets the eye. He wasn’t going to touch the winner that day but Greenpointcrusader was on the lead in the race, completely against his usual late-running style and still finished 2 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Fellowship.

“He’s a late foal and needed time to mature in behind and put muscle on and things like that,” trainer Dominick Schettino said.

Owners: St. Elias Stable, MeB Racing Stables LLC and Brooklyn Boyz Stables

Trainer: Dominick Schettino

Breeder: Oakbrook Farm

Bloodline: Dark bay colt by Bernardini-Ava Knowsthecode, by Cryptoclearance

Career record: Five starts, 2-2-0, $435,700

Last start: Second in Grade II Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 30

Next start: Possible for Grade II Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on March 26

Potential trouble: Has yet to win beyond 1 mile.

This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 10:07 PM with the headline "Derby Dozen: Greenpointcrusader tantalizing, but questions remain."