Parx Racing: Smart Bid finds spot close to home in President’s Cup

Smart Bid looks like the class of the 10 older horses set to clash Saturday in the $250,000 Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association President’s Cup at Parx Racing in suburban Philadelphia.

Trained by Graham Motion for the Augustin Stable, Smart Bid is the leading earner in the 1 1/8-mile turf race with a career bankroll of $816,813. While keeping company with the likes of Acclamation and Get Stormy this year, 5-year-old Smart Bid already has enjoyed a career-best season, having won the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial at Fair Grounds in March while recording four seconds among his other six starts, all of them on grass.

Motion said he plans to ship Smart Bid to Parx on race morning from his nearby home base at the Fair Hill Training Center in northeastern Maryland. Smart Bid had his final pre-race work for the President’s Cup when breezing six furlongs Saturday in 1:15 over the synthetic surface at Fair Hill.

“He has just been a consistent horse all year,” Motion said. “This race gives him a chance to run close to home.”

Smart Bid, with Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado to ride, came well drawn when assigned post 3 at entry time Monday.

The top challenges to Smart Bid could possibly come from Citrus Kid, Violon Sacre, or Stormy Lord.

Citrus Kid, who worked Saturday over the Belmont Park training track for trainer John Terranova, will be making his first start since a narrow victory in an April turf allowance at Keeneland. Violon Sacre won the Knickerbocker at Belmont last fall, while Stormy Lord is a two-time stakes winner in Canada this year, albeit in shorter races on the grass.

From the hedge, the full field is Lubash, Citrus Kid, Smart Bid, Cat Park, Violon Sacre, Stormy Lord, Feels All Right, Afleet Again, Bim Bam, and The Cognac Kid.

The 11th running of the President’s Cup goes as the 11th of 12 Saturday races, with post time set for 5:01 p.m. Eastern. First post is 12:55.