Smooth Like Strait seeks a G1 breakthrough in Shoemaker Mile
Cannon Thoroughbreds’ consistent Smooth Like Strait heads a field of seven 3-year-olds and up in Monday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Shoemaker Mile, one of three Grade 1 stakes on a nine-race Memorial Day program at Santa Anita.
A Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” Challenge Race qualifier, the nominated winner of the Shoemaker Mile will be entitled to an automatic entry to the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Mile Turf, to be run at Del Mar on Nov. 6.
Trained by Michael McCarthy, Smooth Like Strait, a four-time graded stakes winner on turf, will face stiff competition, headed perhaps by Phil D’Amato’s Say the Word, who was supplemented at a cost of $6,000.
A 4-year-old colt by Midnight Lute, Smooth Like Strait comes off a pair of neck defeats—a third place finish in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at a mile and one eighth on May 1 at Churchill Downs and in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile here on March 6.
A three quarter length winner of the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile three starts back on Dec. 26, Smooth Like Strait, dating back to his 2 ½ length win in the Grade 2 La Jolla Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 9, has been favored in six out of his last seven starts, all graded stakes, and he’s won three of them.
With regular rider Umberto Rispoli back aboard, Smooth Like Strait, who earned a best last-out Beyer Speed figure of 100 in the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs, is 14-6-3-2 overall with earnings of $753,823.
An impressive 1 1/2 length winner of the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes going a mile and one half over a soft turf at Keeneland April 17, Say the Word was second, beaten three quarters of a length two starts back going the same distance here in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes on March 20.
A 6-year-old Ontario/Canadian-bred gelding by More Than Ready, Say the Word, who will be cutting back to a flat mile for the first time since Sept. 1, 2019, will be making his fifth start for D’Amato on Monday. With Flavien Prat engaged, he’s well-spotted for owners Agave Racing Stable and Sam-Son Farm.
A Grade 1 winner in his final start at Woodbine Race Course on Oct. 18, Say the Word brings an overall mark of 29-6-3-5 and earnings of $609,292 to Monday’s Shoe Mile.