Justalittlesmoke rebounds to win Michael Mackey Memorial Angenora Stakes

Justalittlesmoke regained the form that made her champion Ohio-bred 3-year-old filly in 2015 when she rebounded from a rare sub-par performance to win Saturday’s $75,000 Michael Mackey Memorial Angenora Stakes at Thistledown.

Fifth in a field of eight statebred fillies and mares after the opening quarter-mile, Justalittlesmoke ($7.40) put her head in front of pacesetter Rowlands Big Smile after a half-mile in 45.60 seconds, led by a length at the eighth pole, and scored by 2 1/4 lengths under regular rider Terry Houghton after six furlongs in 1:11.22.

Tune Up, returning to Ohio-bred company following a win and a third against open allowance foes, finished second at 24-1, 1 3/4 lengths in front of Rowlands Big Smile, making her stakes debut.

The disappointment in the race was Bold Cait, who beat Justalittlesmoke by 6 3/4 lengths when they met on May 14 and was undefeated in four starts since May 2015. She never threatened and finished fifth as the 3-5 favorite.

Justalittlesmoke, a daughter of Smoke Glacken trained by Bob Gorham for Mast Thoroughbreds, is now 8 for 15 with earnings of $422,980.