Woodbine
Smart Mission impressive in return
Lauren King/Coglianese Photos Smart Mission wins her career debut at Gulfstream Park.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Smart Mission returned from an injury with a one-length victory over Mozambique Gold in a first-level allowance on turf Aug. 1 and now looks headed to stakes company.
Smart Mission won her career debut at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 21, but emerged from that race with a chip in her knee. Trainer Malcolm Pierce said that after Smart Mission had surgery, she began swimming as part of her training.
“Instead of giving her the 30-day turnout time, we swam her for 30 days,” he said. “Bruce Jackson got her started and legged up at Fair Hill while she was swimming there.”
He said he was very pleased with the filly’s performance off the layoff.
“That was very nice,” he said. “Any time they can step up and beat winners for the first time off of a layoff – we were all impressed with her race, for sure.”
Pierce said he hadn’t discussed Smart Mission’s potential next start with owner Sam-Son Farm, but said the Grade 3, $150,000 Ontario Colleen Stakes over a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies Sept. 24 seemed to make the most sense.
“We wanted to make sure she came out of the race good,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind waiting for the Colleen. The family has all been grass, and I’m thinking the more we can keep her on the turf, the better; it’s going to be for her soundness. We’ll hold discussions with the owners. Like I said, we haven’t discussed a second spot.”
The daughter of Smart Strike is a half-sister to the graded turf-stakes winners French Beret and Irish Mission, who was named Canada’s champion turf female in 2012.