Cross Traffic juveniles score maiden wins

Vivid Verse and Bird Traffic both tallied their first wins on Nov. 16 to give leading Freshman sire Cross Traffic 15 total winners and put the Spendthrift stallion on the cusp of $2 million in progeny earnings.

Vivid Verse was making his second lifetime start on Friday, and first on the turf. Breaking from the outside post in the field of 10, the dark bay colt encountered traffic problems early, but split horses in upper stretch to gain command in the final furlong, ultimately winning by a half-length in the 5 1/2-furlong affair [WATCH RACE].

Vivid Verse is owned by Highland Training Center and was bred by Ralph Kinder, Erv Woolsey and Spendthrift Farm. He is the first foal out of the stakes-winning mare Madrilena.

Bird Traffic, a MaryLou Whitney Stables homebred, won a hard-fought victory by a head a Churchill Downs after battling the entire 1 1/16-mile trip with Carolina Beach. The gray filly is out of Bird Legacy, who is a half-sister to Belmont S. (G1) winner Birdstone and Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Bird Town.

Cross Traffic, the sire of this year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Jaywalk and eight stakes horses overall this year, will stand at Spendthrift next year for $25,000 stands and nurses.