String King Holds Own Versus Open Company
Owner-trainer-breeder Charlie Smith was his usual smiling self at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on Sunday morning before heading back to his Haughton, La., home base. That was understandable, because late Saturday afternoon String King – a horse he owns, trains and bred in Louisiana – proved himself the real deal in the open company of Saturday’s Grade III Col. E.R. Bradley Handicap.
String King ran second behind Bluegrass Hall’s Optimizer in the Col. Bradley, but he beat the seven others in the race – six of which were bred in Kentucky and one in Florida.
“I’m very proud of him,” said Smith. “I think he’s the best thing Louisiana has going right now and I hope he gets some consideration for Horse of the Year in Louisiana. He ran big yesterday. He just got trapped down there where the going was tough, but as soon as he got clear he showed everybody what he can do. He ate up all his feed this morning and he just now lay down for a little bit. He’s at peace right now.
“I’m going to have him picked up Wednesday morning and brought back to the River Point Training Center,” said Smith. “I’m going to look around and try and find a spot for his next race, but I’d really like to bring him back here for the (Grade II) Mervin Muniz (Memorial Handicap March 30). The Muniz is definitely on the agenda.”
The $400,000 Mervin Muniz, richest turf stakes of the Fair Grounds season, will be run at about nine furlongs over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course on Louisiana Derby Day.