Smooth Like Strait bullets half-mile, confirmed for Mathis Brothers Mile

Smooth Like Strait, a four-time stakes winner in the last 13 months, will have his final start of 2020 in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile for 3-year-olds on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

Trainer Michael McCarthy confirmed the plans after Smooth Like Strait worked a half-mile in 48 seconds at Santa Anita on Friday, the fastest of 58 works at the distance.

“I was very pleased with what I saw,” McCarthy said.

Owned by Cannon Thoroughbreds, Smooth Like Strait was second by a head as the 5-2 favorite in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Nov. 28, leading in the final furlong before being caught by Domestic Spending. Smooth Like Strait’s most prestigious win was the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 18.

Friday at Santa Anita, the two-time stakes winner Independence Hall worked five furlongs in 1:00 for a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Runhappy Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. Previously trained by Michael Trombetta, Independence Hall won his debut for McCarthy in an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 8.

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McCarthy said he is also considering Stellar Sound for the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs on Dec. 26. Stellar Sound was third as the 6-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares at Los Alamitos on Dec. 5. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Stellar Sound was guided to the front on the backstretch. Stellar Sound led by two lengths but faded to finish 6 1/2 lengths behind Proud Emma.