Remington Park: Humble Smarty hangs on to win three-way photo in Vance

Humble Smarty held his ground along the inside to win a three-way photo over Herecomesbert and Native Ruler in the inaugural $100,000 David M. Vance Stakes at Remington Park on Friday night. The three horses hit the wire in a tight finish, with Humble Smarty prevailing by a nose over Herecomesbert. It was another nose back in third to Native Ruler.

Humble Smarty ($23) broke well in the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up, and pressed favorite Chief of Affairs through an opening quarter in 21.42 seconds and a half-mile in 43.91. Humble Smarty overtook Chief of Affairs into the stretch and managed to withstand the rush of Herecomesbert and Native Ruler to win in 1:08.72.

It was the second career stakes score for 7-year-old Humble Smarty, the Brett Creighton-owned and trained horse whose first stakes score came in May when he romped by more than seven lengths in the $50,000 Honor the Hero Express at Canterbury. Humble Smarty earned a Beyer Figure of 110 in that race.

“I told Brett in the paddock if this colt runs back to how he ran when I won on him at Canterbury, they won’t beat him,” said Dean Butler, who was aboard Humble Smarty again Friday.

Humble Smarty earned $60,000 for the win to improve his career earnings to $373,467. He has now won 15 of 56 starts. Humble Smarty, a son of Mutakddim, was bred in Arkansas by Jim Danaher.

The Vance was named in honor of the first president and general manager of Remington.