Spring Quality goes the distance in the Red Smith
Spring Quality lit up the tote board at Aqueduct when he took the lead mid-stretch and had enough to hold off all challengers to get his first graded stakes victory in the $200,000 Red Smith (G3). Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado guided the 12-1 shot to get his third win in the mile and three-eighths turf stake, while trainer Graham Motion took home the Red Smith trophy for the very first time.
Prado allowed the 5-year-old son of Quality Road to settle in third position in the early going behind the pacesetter Memories of Peter and the Chad Brown trained favorite Money Multiplier. Get Jets was a few lengths in back of those three. The pace was slow, which was to be expected in this long-distance turf event on a cold November afternoon.
The pace picked up as the field entered the final turn. Memories of Peter dropped out of contention as Prado asked Spring Quality to give his best. Those two surged to get the lead while Money Multiplier was making his move up the rail.
Meanwhile, the other Chad Brown runner, Call Provision was making a move from the back of the pack. Irad Ortiz found an opening between horses to challenge for the top position, but Prado had rated his horse perfectly and had just enough left to win by a half-length in a final time of 2:17.72.
"If you look, there was not much speed in the race and this horse, the last time I rode him on the grass [in the Grade 2 Knickerbocker on October 9], he showed a little more tactical speed,” explained Prado. “Today, he broke running, he put himself in a good spot, and I was very happy with the way he was going.
"He was moving easy. I didn't push him early; he just took me for a ride through the first part. When we passed the three-eighths pole, I asked him and he gave me a little more, a little more. Just keep him going. He's a big horse, he's got a long stride, and that helps him in the stretch."
Prior to the Red Smith, Spring Quality’s best finish was a win in a stake at Penn National that was restricted to Pennsylvania-breds. This victory upped his career record to 9: 5-2-0 with earnings of $295,797.
Looking ahead Motion said they would, "Probably give him a little break. Freshen him up. I think he can run in the big races next year. This horse is very talented."