Smart Transition a threat in Discovery Handicap
There are only seven entrants in the Grade 3 Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct on Wednesday, but the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds is anything but clear-cut. Todd Pletcher has three in the $150,000 race: West Virginia Derby winner Madefromlucky, Pennsylvania Derby third-place finisher Tommy Macho, and First Spark, who has won two straight optional claimers.
Kiaran McLaughlin will start Ocean Knight, who will be making his third start off a layoff and looks to have the most speed in the field. And then there is Smart Transition, the winner of the restricted Curlin Stakes at Saratoga. Trained by John Shirreffs for Arnold Zetcher, he will be making his first start since finishing sixth in the Travers.
Smart Transition is 2 for 7. Although he was beaten a dozen lengths by Keen Ice in the Travers, his 4 3/4-length Curlin victory suggests that we may not have seen his best work. Smart Transition is the first foal out of the Brazilian mare Zardana, who won the Grade 2 Bayakoa in 2009 at Hollywood Park for Shirreffs and Zetcher. Zardana might be best remembered for beating Rachel Alexandra the following season in the New Orleans Ladies at Fair Grounds.
“We’re very proud of him since he is Zardana’s first foal,” Shirreffs said. “In the Curlin, he surprised us by how strong he finished.”
Smart Transition, a son of Smart Strike, has worked seven times in the seven weeks since the Travers, including a bullet 59.03-second drill Oct. 27.
“He’s always worked well for us, sometimes a little too well,” Shirreffs said. “He worked in 58 before the Travers, which was a little too fast. His mother was very tough, and he’s the same way.”
Smart Transition was ridden by John Velazquez in the Travers, but Junior Alvarado, who was aboard for the Curlin, has the mount Wednesday. Velazquez rides Madefromlucky.
Shirreffs said Smart Transition was rank in the Travers.
“We’re trying to bring him into this race not quite as strong,” Shirreffs said. “Hopefully, Junior will be able to tuck him in somewhere and he doesn’t pull the whole race.”
Shirreffs summers in New York but will soon be heading west.
“We plan to leave for California when the weather gets cold, when the ground starts to freeze,” he said.
The Discovery field also includes Made in Detroit, a first-level allowance winner for Rick Violette Jr., and Total Joint, who was third to Made in Detroit for Jason Servis.
Discovery Handicap, race 8
Key contenders
Tommy Macho (Last 3 Beyers: 90-79-95)
◗ Pletcher has been hot since the Breeders’ Cup, going 8 for 19 through Sunday. Last Friday through Sunday, he went 6 for 13.
◗ Tommy Macho ran much better in the Pennsylvania Derby than his running line indicates. He made a strong move on the far turn and moved up behind Frosted and Iron Fist nearing the stretch. He couldn’t keep up with that pair in the lane, but few can.
Ocean Knight (Last 3 Beyers: 92-96-47)
◗ Sam F. Davis Stakes winner was given a break after finishing seventh in the Tampa Bay Derby in March. He has raced well in both starts since returning and comes into this off a second-level optional-claiming win at a mile.
◗ He holds a pace advantage as there isn’t much other speed in the lineup.
Smart Transition (Last 3 Beyers: 88-89-93)
◗ He needs to settle early and finish strongly like he did in the Curlin.
Madefromlucky (Last 3 Beyers: 84-95-83)
◗ Never fired in the Pennsylvania Derby, finishing seventh. Still, he didn’t quit and was beaten only 3 3/4 lengths by third-place Tommy Macho.
◗ Enters off three bullet works on the Belmont training track. He and Tommy Macho worked a bullet five furlongs in company last Wednesday.
◗ As the 122-pound highweight, he will concede three to eight pounds to his rivals.
First Spark (Last 3 Beyers: 88-88-76)
◗ Makes his stakes debut off back-to-back optional-claiming wins at Parx and Monmouth.