Seattle Smooth probably out for the year

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Seattle Smooth, perhaps the second-best older filly or mare in the country behind Zenyatta, will most likely not race again this year due to minor issues that have prompted her connections to give her a 60-day break.

Seattle Smooth is 3 for 3 this year - and unbeaten in five starts on fast dirt - including a victory in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park on June 13. She was originally being pointed to Sunday's Grade 1 Go for Wand Handicap at Saratoga.

Instead, Seattle Smooth will remain in light training at Aqueduct for the time being with her connections eyeing a return to the races in 2010.

"Seattle Smooth is not moving as well and acting as well as she was going into the Phipps, and is deserving of a break," trainer Tony Dutrow said. "The tax of those three races have her not the same horse. She's not sour, she's not refusing; I just know she's not the same."

Seattle Smooth, owned by Ernie Moody's Mercedes Stables, had blossomed since being transferred to the East Coast and Dutrow last summer. She won the Go for Wand at Delaware Park and the Grade 2 Fitz Dixon Cotillion at Philadelphia Park to end her 3-year-old campaign last year.

She began her 4-year-old season with a victory in the Grade 2 Bed o' Roses at Aqueduct in April before winning the Grade 2 Shuvee and the Phipps at Belmont. She was not being considered for this year's Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic because the race is on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita.

"Our goal was to win a Grade 1 with her," Dutrow said. "Everything cooperated and we were able to do that. Next year, the Breeders' Cup is on dirt and it would be great if we could get there next year."

With Seattle Smooth out of the mix, Seventh Street likely becomes the favorite for the Go for Wand in what figures to be a small field. Seventh Street, who won the Grade 1 Apple Blossom in April, finished second behind Seattle Smooth in the Phipps in her last start.

Miss Isella, who won the Louisville Distaff and Fleur de Lis handicaps this summer at Churchill, figures to be the second choice. Miss Isella will be ridden by Julien Leparoux Sunday, subbing for Calvin Borel who will be at Monmouth to ride Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell. Others under consideration for the Go for Wand are Color Me Up, Skylighter and Weathered.