Sam Houston: Smooth Bid stretching out

Smooth Bid will get back to the distance of perhaps his best race this year when he moves to 1 1/16 miles for the $25,000 Buffalo Bayou at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston. The overnight turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up drew a field of seven, including multiple stakes winner Silver Haze.

Smooth Bid last raced at 7 1/2 furlongs, and after breaking from post 9 in the $45,000 No Le Hace at Retama Park, he missed by a nose. Before that he was third by a half-length to Grade 3 winner Ascertain in the $100,000 Remington Park Green at 1 1/16 miles on turf Oct. 21.

For the effort, Smooth Bid earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95, his best number of the year. Further adding to his appeal at 1 1/16 miles is the fact that in his only other start at the distance this year he won a stakes-quality allowance at Lone Star Park. Rohan Singh has the mount for Dakota Stables and trainer Steve Asmussen.

Silver Haze made his last start in the Remington Green, and the race looks like a throwout. A consistent runner as a rule, he finished 10th, and before that had won the allowance prep for the race. Quincy Hamilton, who is now based at Sam Houston after riding at Remington, has the mount for owner Kaaren Biggs and trainer Steve Wren.