Double Cruise, under jockey Martin Ortiz, winning the $12,905(US) Alberta Stallion Stakes Maturity Saturday afternoon at Century Mile Racetrack.

© Ryan Haynes / Coady Photography Ltd.

EDMONTON, ALB—JUNE 25, 2022—Multiple stakes winner Double Cruise gained an early lead then held sway to defeat Royale Runaway by half-a-length in the $12,905(US) Alberta Stallion Stakes Maturity Saturday afternoon at Century Mile Racetrack.

Ridden by jockey Martin Ortiz, the 5-year-old Bd Cruiser gelding covered the 330 yards in :17.097 seconds, a 95 speed index into a 15 mph crosswind. It was the sixth career win in 18 starts for the Alberta-bred runner.

Owned-trained and bred by Tom Kenway, Double Cruise is out of the Eye Take Time mare Eye Cruise. He won the Canada Cup QH Derby and the Alberta Bred Derby at 3 and the Alberts Stallion Stakes Futurity at 2.  Double Cruise picked up $6,742(US) today to push his earnings total to $73,937.

Royal Runaway rallied late under jockey Armando Hernandez to pick up $3,307(US) for second. Trainer Brant Laczo trains the 4-year-old son of leading Canadian sire First Timber, from the Hez Choice Property mare Sparkling Hy, for himself and Dakota Laczo. Isaak Fehr bred the multiple stakes-placed earner of $20,975.

Timbers Express, also a 4-year-old First Timber gelding, finished a nose back to earn $1,968(US) for third. Again from the Brant Laczo stable, Timers Express races for owner-breeder Shirley Laczo. Corrine Andros rode the $22,002 earner out of the Daddys Belly Roll mare Daddys Express Girl.

Sparks In The Night, Big Hoss Rollin, Ima Runnin First and Atomic Blondie completed the field.