Justalittlesmoke scores in Petro Memorial Handicap

Justalittlesmoke strengthened her status as the season’s top older Ohio-bred female with a three-quarter-length victory in Saturday’s $75,000 J. William Petro Memorial Handicap at Thistledown.

Coming off a win in the six-furlong Angenora three weeks ago, the 4-year-old Justalittlesmoke ($7.40) sat a length behind pacesetter Floral Sky through six furlongs in 1:12.84. She took the lead at the top of the stretch under Terry Houghton, was 2 1/2 lengths in front at the eighth pole, and withstood a rally by the 3-year-old filly Tune Up to complete 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.44. It was another four lengths back to Needmoreflattery, a former two-time Ohio-bred Horse of the Year. Bold Cait, the winner of last year’s Petro, finished eighth, beaten 22 lengths, as the 2-1 favorite.

A daughter of Smoke Glacken trained by Bob Gorham for Mast Thoroughbreds, Justalittlesmoke is now 9 for 16 lifetime with earnings of $465,980.

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