Kid Cruz and Madefromlucky Headline Field for $200,000 Excelsior Stakes

Kid Cruz has been installed as the morning line favorite at odds of 9-5 for trainer Linda Rice. A five-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid, he has won six of his eighteen starts and is a graded stakes winner as a three-year-old. After a slow start to the year with a fourth-place finish in the Jazil Stakes, he came back to win the John B. Campbell Stakes at Laurel Park in his most recent start. Jose Ortiz will be in the irons and they will break from post position two.

Madefromlucky trying to regain competitive form

Second choice at morning line odds of 2-1 is Madefromlucky for trainer Todd Pletcher. A chestnut son of Lookin at Lucky, the four-year-old colt has been on the board in ten of his fifteen starts and is a four-time winner. He is trying to return to form after two average efforts this year. In his first start of the year, he finished seventh in the Donn Handicap (G1) and then dropped down in class for a third-place effort in the Stymie Stakes. John Velazquez will be aboard from post four.

Step up in class for Norumbega 

Also in the field at morning line odds of 5-1 is Norumbega for trainer Claude McGaughey, III. A six-year-old son of Tiznow, he has won four of his eighteen starts and was a graded stakes winner in 2014. He had only a brief campaign in 2015 and will be stepping back up the ladder after two consecutive fourth-place finishes against optional claiming competition. Manuel Franco will be aboard and they will break from post position three.