Smash Ticket using allowance as possible stepping-stone to Prioress

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Smash Ticket, who was scratched out of the Grade 3 Victory Ride on July 9 at Belmont Park over a workers’ compensation insurance issue for trainer Todd Fincher, has been transferred to New York-based trainer Rob Atras and will run in a second-level allowance Wednesday at Saratoga.

Should things go well in this six-furlong race, Smash Ticket could be pointed to the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress Stakes for 3-year-old fillies here Sept. 2, Atras said.

“They wanted to keep an eye on the Test but most likely the Prioress,” said Atras, who trains the horse for Brad King and Stan and Suzanne Kirby. “They just want to get a race in her. There are no 3-year-old [sprint] races anywhere.”

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Smash Ticket finished third in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes last Aug. 6 at Del Mar. She didn’t race again until May 30, when she won a nonwinners-of-two races lifetime allowance by 11 lengths at Lone Star. Smash Ticket was 5-2 on the morning line for the Victory Ride but was scratched when Fincher couldn’t satisfy the New York State Gaming Commission’s rules regarding workers’ compensation, though he had such insurance policies out of state.

Smash Ticket is one of 10 fillies and mares – but one of only two 3-year-old fillies – in the field for Wednesday’s $120,000 race.

“I’ve only had her for a short while, so I don’t know what to expect, but hopefully she can build off that race,” Atras said. “There’s a lot of outside speed, which could make it difficult, but I think she can rate a little bit.”

Mischievous Diane, the other 3-year-old in the field, also is coming off an allowance victory in her lone start this year. She is part of the early speed to which Atras refers.

“It’s a tough spot, we drew the rail, but we’re going to take a shot and hopefully she runs well and gets over the track at least,” Atras said.