Smooth Daddy gets some class relief in optional claimer

Smooth Daddy has made six of his last seven starts in graded stakes company. Roman Approval was nailed in deep stretch of his last start by a graded-caliber performer. Both are principal players in Friday’s third race at Aqueduct, a high-level optional-claiming turf marathon.

The third-level optional claimer also is open to horses who have not won in 2017 or are entered for an $80,000 claiming tag. Smooth Daddy, who will be making his 30th career start, is being offered for a claiming price for the first time. Roman Approval, who has raced 45 times, is eligible for the third-level allowance condition.

Smooth Daddy won the Grade 3 Fort Marcy at Belmont Park in May for trainer Tom Albertrani after finishing second in that race the previous year.

“He’s run some really good races in the past,” Albertrani said. “But he’s a hard horse to place; he has no conditions.”

Smooth Daddy doesn’t race very often. A 6-year-old son of Scat Daddy, he started five times in 2016 and will be making his fifth outing this season.

“He’s got a little age under his belt and we think some class relief will do him good,” Albertrani said.

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Roman Approval was run down by Call Provision and beaten three-quarters of a length at the same level as this 1 3/8-mile turf race on Oct. 20. Call Provision came back to run well last Saturday in the slow-paced Grade 3 Red Smith, when his late run came up a half-length short and he finished second.

Roman Approval, a dedicated front-runner at marathon distances, has raced well since being claimed by trainer Tom Morley for $62,500 at Belmont Park in July. In his start prior to facing Call Provision, he was beaten a head after leading in a second-level optional claimer.

Roman Approval should go to the lead Friday. Smooth Daddy also has speed at this distance and shouldn’t be far behind. If there is one knock on both horses, they each have more seconds than firsts.

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Smooth Daddy is a four-time winner with six seconds. Roman Approval, who began his career at Camarero in Puerto Rico, has nine wins and 18 seconds.

Gold Shield, who is trained by Shug McGaughey, also figures in the mix. He finished third to Call Provision on Oct. 20, beaten three lengths. He should be able to work out a stalking trip, and if the top two hook up could find himself in the right spot.

St. Louie is going well for Mike Maker and comes into this race off a win over second-level allowance rivals at Keeneland. In his prior start, he finished fourth, beaten two lengths, in the 12-horse Kentucky Turf Cup, a 1 1/2-mile Grade 3 at Kentucky Downs.

◗ In race 2, a 1 1/8-mile maiden race for 2-year-olds, Marconi will make his debut for Todd Pletcher.

Marconi, by Tapit out of Ponche de Leona, is a half-brother to 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man. He was the second-highest priced yearling at the 2016 Keeneland September sale when Bridlewood Farm and M.V. Magnier purchased him for $2 million.