Smart Uncle gives Fisher his sixth Smithwick win
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Smart Uncle surprised a lot of people when he ran down his tiring stablemate, Roja Redemption, then withstood a final surge from Fil Dor to register a three-quarter-length victory in Wednesday’s Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Handicap at Saratoga.
Perhaps nobody was as surprised as Smart Uncle's trainer, Jack Fisher.
“Smart Uncle is a better horse than I thought he was,” Fisher admitted in the winner’s circle after the race. “Roja Redemption is exactly what I knew he was. He was entered to help fill the race, and I thought he ran great.”
The Smithwick marked the first time Smart Uncle had competed in a graded stakes of any kind in a 21-race career that had consisted of a dozen races over jumps and nine starts on the flat. In fact, Smart Uncle had failed to even hit the board in his last six tries over hurdles dating back to his victory in the Dan Van Clief Memorial over the Foxfield steeplechase and hunt course in Virginia in April of 2025.
Smart Uncle, who finished third in a restricted allowance race on the turf at Colonial Downs four weeks earlier, raced among a pack of horses rating far behind the early pacesetter Take Your Seats, who opened as much as a 20-length advantage during the opening 1 1/2 miles of the 2 3/8-mile Smithwick.
Roja Redemption was the first to make a move, overtaking the tiring leader entering the backstretch for the final time and drawing well clear before the two-mile mark. Smart Uncle, who jumped well throughout, had moved to closer attendance by that point before ultimately proving best in the long run down the home straight.
Fil Dor also moved to within easy striking distance approaching the stretch and finished willingly, but he could not reach the winner while up for second by a neck over Roja Redemption. McTigue, the 2-1 favorite coming off a victory in the Grade 1 Leo O’Brien Handicap here one month earlier, advanced to a striking position outside rivals down the backstretch before falling at the final jump. He was vanned off after the race.
Smart Uncle, a 6-year-old son of Uncle Mo, was ridden to victory by Jamie Bargary. He covered the grueling distance while carrying 142 pounds in 4:42.76 and paid $10.08 while giving Fisher his sixth victory in the prestigious Smithwick.
“I plan on running him back here in the Jonathan Sheppard,” said Fisher. “I plan on running both of them back.”