Once an $8,000 claim, Micanopy set for Pennsylvania Derby after Smarty Jones win
:quality(75))
In April, trainer Michael Simone claimed Micanopy for $8,000 at Tampa Bay Downs and thought he had lucked upon an improving 3-year-old. That modest purchase in Florida has already paid great dividends, and the journey is far from over.
With a perfect stalking trip under jockey Samuel Marin, Micanopy closed with dogged determination to win the $200,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Tuesday at Parx Racing. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds served as the local prep for the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby next month, and Simone said he plans to take the opportunity.
“Based on the way he handled this race today and the distance and the track, I definitely think it’s worth giving him a shot,” Simone said. “He trains locally at Delaware, so it’s not too long of a haul for him to come and race here.”
After winning the five-way shake for Micanopy at Tampa, Simone brought the gelding to Delaware Park for a stint in allowance company over the summer. He has spent much of his campaign against older rivals, winning a starter allowance in May and running a slightly unlucky fourth in a first-level allowance in July. Between those starts, he faced 3-year-olds on turf in June and also handled that test well, finishing second in another first-level allowance.
“We happened to get lucky that day [at Tampa] and got him, and every step up we try him, he seems to handle it pretty well,” Simone said.
But for all of his gritty improvement at Delaware, Micanopy was never going to be the favorite in the Smarty Jones. Ponder and Dream, the Pennsylvania-bred coming off a 14 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Lil E. Tee, was bet down to 1-2 and was always the clear target out in front for trainer Butch Reid.
There seemed to be a chance that Ponder and Dream might get company on the front end Tuesday, but jockey Mychel Sanchez got away with an uncontested lead and cruised through the opening quarter-mile in 23.96 seconds. He completed the half-mile in 47.65 while extending his advantage.
On a good track that dried out over the course of the day, Sanchez coaxed the pacesetter around the far turn to lead by 1 1/2 lengths at the top of the stretch. Micanopy advanced into second under Marin and was four lengths clear of his next rival, making him the only one with a realistic chance at taking over.
Ponder and Dream never caved on the lead, running on to the wire with something left. After the race, Reid said Sanchez gave him the ideal ride and made no excuses. In the end, Micanopy simply couldn’t be denied.
With a determined charge down the center of the track, Simone’s ever-improving Florida-bred advanced on the leader with every stride and took over without much of a fight. He kicked clear by 1 1/2 lengths, completing the distance on a good surface in 1:43.78 and paying $12 to win.
“He breezed really well last week going into this race,” Simone said. “We were looking forward to giving him a shot today in this race and I think he had a great setup. Samuel Marin saved ground when he could, got him outside, and the horse showed what he could do.”
Freedom’s Echo, who chased in second but could not contend with Ponder and Dream early, finished third, 8 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up.
In each of his four starts for Simone this year, the argument can be made that Micanopy has run the best race of his career, and that trend continued when the going got tougher on Tuesday. The Pennsylvania Derby is another test entirely, but Simone said Micanopy has earned it.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.
