Stutts: Transferring Smooth Air was right move

Trainer Bennie Stutts Jr. will miss multiple Grade 2 winner Smooth Air, but he said transferring the Mount Joy Stables homebred to the Belmont Park barn of trainer Chad Brown was the right thing to do.

“I was taught from my father, who also was a trainer, to always do the right thing by the horse,” Stutts said Wednesday morning. “I know I’ll miss the horse, but it makes sense to leave him up there. They want to run him in a stake at Monmouth [Park] and then maybe Saratoga [Race Course].

“Not only will this save a lot of expenses, but a lot wear and tear on the horse from travelling. There are always things that can happen when you’re transferring a horse across the country.”