TDN RISING STARS

March 10, 2013 - Gulfstream Park, Race 8, , USD $54,500, 1m, NW1$X

Cross Traffic, c, 4, 2009 by Unbridled's Song

1st Dam: Stop Traffic (MGISW, $864,518), by Cure the Blues
2nd Dam: Save My Soul, by I'ma Hell Raiser
3rd Dam: Somethingexciting, by Shecky Greene

Owner: Gold Mark Farm LLC
Breeder: Diamond A Racing Corp (KY)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Cross Traffic earned the prestigious J"TDN Rising Star" J distinction, going two-for-two with this impressive performance. In his only previous start, the $300,000 FTSAUG yearling graduated by 1 3/4 lengths going 6 1/2 panels at this track, earning a 94 Beyer Speed Figure, Jan. 24. Wickersheim (Unbridled’s Song), who was runner-up that day, came back to romp by 11 lengths and earn a 96 Beyer Feb. 17 before facing off with Cross Traffic again in this contest. Backed at even-money in this one, Cross Traffic broke well and chased the pace set by Wickersheim off the rail down the backside. He moved up to challenge on the turn and pulled away down the stretch to finish 7 1/2 lengths in front of last year’s GI Travers S. third-place finisher Fast Falcon (Awesome Again). Wickersheim was third. The winning time of 1:35.17 matched the clocking for Cross Traffic’s stablemate Discreet Dancer (Discreet Cat)’s win in Saturday’s GII Gulfstream Park H. His dam Stop Traffic was purchased for $300,000 at the 1996 Keeneland November sale by Gerald Ford of Diamond A Racing after finishing third in that year’s GI Acorn S. Kept in training and transferred to Richard Mandella, she took the 1998 GI Ballerina H. and 1999 GI Santa Monica H. for Diamond A. She had a full-sister to Cross Traffic sell for $500,000 as a yearling at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, and an Indian Charlie filly go for $350,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale--both were purchased by Tom McGreevy for Fox Hill Farm. Stop Traffic produced a Medaglia d’Oro colt in 2012. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $51,300.