July 25, 2005
Smuggler saved ground for the first three-quarters of the race, angled out in the stretch and cruised to an impressive victory in the Grade 1 $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park on July 23.
"It worked out the way we planned it," said winning rider Edgar Prado. "I wanted to wait, and then when it was time to go, wait a little more."
Summerly went to the lead in the 1 1/4-mile race for 3-year-old fillies and set fractions of :25, :49 and 1:13 3/5 over the fast track. Spun Sugar stayed to her inside. For All We Know, on the outside, and Smuggler, on the rail, stalked from a couple lengths back. On the turn for home, For All We Know failed to respond to Shaun Bridgmohan's urging. As she dropped back, Prado took Smuggler to the outside of Summerly and moved to the lead. Summerly held on to keep second over Spun Sugar who made a late rally for third.
Results chart from DRF
"She (runs on) cruise control," Prado said, "but when she takes the lead she waits on horses a little bit; she thinks the race is over. I know if there is ever a horse coming she is going to have another gear."
Smuggler, a Phipps family homebred daughter of Unbridled out of Inside Information, completed the Belmont Spring meeting with an impressive 3-1-0 record. She won an allowance race on May 11, finished second in the Acorn (Gr. 1) on June 4, won the Mother Goose (Gr. 1) on June 25 and won the CCA Oaks (Gr. 1). She is now 5-2-0 from seven starts with earnings of $634,600. Her next race is likely to be the Alabama (Gr. 1) on Aug. 20 at Saratoga.
"I've got to give a little credit to Edgar," said winning trainer Claude R. McGaughey III. "We had a little talk at the barn the other day. He said he was going to wait. She relaxed in behind those horses, then she just cruised to them. She does it so easy I'm kind of floored a little bit. We have four weeks to the Alabama now. I feel like we are in pretty good shape. It is pretty exciting. We have been looking for a really nice horse for a while. It looks like we have one now."
Summerly, who won the Kentucky Oaks (Gr. 1) at Churchill Downs on May 6, finished second under Jerry Bailey, 3 1/2 lengths back. "She left it all on the track today," Bailey said. "She probably doesn't want to run that far."
Spun Sugar carried the Stronach Stable silks along the rail in the stretch, finishing third under John Velazquez.
Second-favorite For All We Know entered the race with a perfect 3-for-3 record, including open-length allowance victories at Keeneland on April 28 and Arlington Park on June 9. Fast works, impressive Beyer numbers and backstretch rumor made her the favorite until Smuggler wrested away the distinction moments before post time. She settled for fourth.
Atlas Valley, Seeking the Ante and Pleasant Chimes rounded out the order in the seven-horse race. Bayou Breeze and Capitulation scratched earlier in the day.
