7/3-5 (CD): Bashford Manor (G3); Firecracker (G2); Locust Grove (G3)

[Sightseek]

Smarty gets his first Stakes winner!

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Smarty gets his first Stakes winner!

Outside of Puerto Rico at least.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Smarty gets his first Stakes winner!

Watch one out in CA named I'll Show Them, out of the very good racemare Top Rung (she was one of Inside Information's victims in the '95 BC Distaff).

He debuted 3 weeks ago in a main track sprint, broke poorly, fell well back and rolled up the inside before gunning down a clear stretch leader on the wire. He ran a couple days ago in a first condition, this time stretching to a mile and moving to the grass, stalked a strong pace, cruised to the leaders entering the stretch, got clear and held off a late runner comfortably.

Should set him up nicely for opening day at Del Mar in the Oceanside, if he can handle another quick turnaround.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Watch one out in CA named I'll Show Them, out of the very good racemare Top Rung (she was one of Inside Information's victims in the '95 BC Distaff).

He debuted 3 weeks ago in a main track sprint, broke poorly, fell well back and rolled up the inside before gunning down a clear stretch leader on the wire. He ran a couple days ago in a first condition, this time stretching to a mile and moving to the grass, stalked a strong pace, cruised to the leaders entering the stretch, got clear and held off a late runner comfortably.

Should set him up nicely for opening day at Del Mar in the Oceanside, if he can handle another quick turnaround.

I really dont get the odds that horse has gone off both times, I had heard about him a while ago. I thought it interesting the move to grass, maybe its the only condition they could get to fill.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

I really dont get the odds that horse has gone off both times, I had heard about him a while ago. I thought it interesting the move to grass, maybe its the only condition they could get to fill.

Yep, but this time of year in CA, as you well know, there's not much dirt racing for 3yos at Del Mar, so experimenting on turf isn't too foolish (though a bit risky on a horse that's stretching out for the first time as well).

Plus, the Glen Hill Farm bloodlines are usually laden with turf ability and Smarty Jones, being by Elusive Quality, may turn out to be one of those sires that gets grass runners without starting on the stuff himself (eg Lemon Drop Kid, Danzig). He had one nice 2yo winner last October at Belmont on the grass (though it broke down after the wire) for Frank Alexander.