What we learned: Count Again is helped by rabbit in Shoemaker

Out of the three Grade 1 races at Santa Anita Monday, the Shoemaker Mile (G1) gave the most interesting results because of the rabbit-infused pace scenario resulting in Count Again beating Smooth Like Strait for the win. Meanwhile in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), both the favorite Royal Ship and Stilleto Boy did not fire their best, but there is less to say about it.

Because the rabbit made life tough for Smooth Like Strait in the Shoemaker Mile, let's focus on that race.

On paper, Dance Some Mo did not give the impression of a flashy speed horse who could work as an effective rabbit. But in addition to being Count Again’s stablemate in the Phil D’Amato barn, Dance Some Mo also had the same owners as Count Again in Agave Racing Stable and Sam-Son Farm. Yet, their talent levels were not the same, which made Dance Some Mo's presence in a Grade 1 interesting. Why was he here?

Given the same trainer and ownership, handicappers could reasonably set off the rabbit alarm after browsing both horses in the past performances.

The morning line favorite Smooth Like Strait possessed speed, but Count Again’s connections had the option to use Dance Some Mo as a sacrifice to weaken Smooth Like Strait and set up Count Again's run.

Jockey Kyle Frey rode Dance Some Mo exactly in that fashion.

Out of the gate, Frey repeatedly asks Dance Some Mo with urgency to go to the front, and the 4-year-old gelding responds with the most speed he has ever shown in his career. He shoots to the lead ahead of Smooth Like Strait to his outside and runs the opening quarter in 22.54 seconds.

As Dance Some Mo handled the dirty work and livened up the fractions, Smooth Like Strait under Flavien Prat was forced into the pressing position. Count Again lets his stablemate accomplish the dirty work and relaxed at the back. Immediately, the race became fascinating to watch.

On the backside, Dance Some Mo continued to lead the field while hitting the half-mile pole in 45.58 seconds. He soon threw in the towel though. 

When the horses started to round the far turn, Dance Some Mo began to fold under pressure and Smooth Like Strait took the lead. At this point, Count Again started to pass horses and he made his way into second.

Smooth Like Strait led the field into the top of the stretch after six furlongs in 1:09.02, but Count Again took dead aim at the leader and had the benefit of relaxing early when Smooth Like Strait had to pressure Count Again’s rabbit.

Under mild urging from Irad Ortiz Jr., Count Again went past a tired Smooth Like Strait with a furlong left to go and won the Shoemaker Mile by 2 1/4 lengths. In most cases, two lengths is a great winning margin in turf racing.

Whenever Smooth Like Strait makes his next start though, go easy on him when analyzing the results of this race. He had the misfortune of dealing with a rabbit intent on securing the lead, and he still ran on fairly well in the stretch even if Count Again moved past him and took advantage for the win.

Count Again also deserves credit for winning his second Grade 1 of the year and third straight race at Santa Anita. While it might seem dirty for the connections to use a rabbit, they did nothing to break the rules. Besides that, Dance Some Mo’s early fractions were demanding, but not suicidal.

Lower-class speed horses are limited in how badly they can weaken a classier runner such as Smooth Like Strait anyway. Dance Some Mo only did enough damage to make sure Count Again would go by Smooth Like Strait. Smooth Like Strait still had 3 1/2 lengths on Masteroffoxhounds back in third.

No matter how many lengths Dance Some Mo affected Smooth Like Strait by, watching a rabbit use his speed effectively is fun to watch. Rabbits are not used as often in races as they were in the older days.

Before the Shoemaker Mile, Smooth Like Strait had run second by a neck in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) at Keeneland in April before shipping back home to run here. Count Again only lost by 1 3/4 lengths in that same race, although he was sixth.

After the Shoemaker Mile, both runners remain threats in most big turf races, especially in California. If Count Again's connections choose to ship elsewhere though, they might want to take Dance Some Mo with them wherever they go, just in case the pace seems light again.