Smooth Like Strait makes it look easy in La Jolla Handicap
DEL MAR, Calif. – Smooth Like Strait, the 4-5 favorite, held an early lead in Sunday’s Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar when he lost his advantage on the backstretch to Indian Peak.
The threat did not overly concern jockey Umberto Rispoli, even if the horse alongside of him was ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
“I didn’t face pressure from Mike’s horse,” Rispoli said. “He was away from me. We didn’t go head and head.”
When Rispoli urged Smooth Like Strait to take command, the response was instantaneous. Smooth Like Strait led by three-quarters of a length on the turn, an advantage that quickly increased to 2 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining. Smooth Like Strait held that margin to the finish in the $126,500 race for 3-year-olds on turf for his third stakes win.
“At the three-eighths pole, I opened up and said, ‘Whoa. Whoa. I’ll take my time,’ ” Rispoli said. “He sprinted home.”
Storm the Court, the champion 2-year-old male of 2019 and 3-1 second choice, finished second in his turf debut, holding off a late threat from 13-1 K P All Systems Go.
Smooth Like Strait ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.29.
K P All Systems Go, who was seventh in the Runhappy Oceanside Stakes here July 10, was followed by Kanderel, Azul Coast, I’m Leaving You, Ajourneytofreedom, and Indian Peak in the field of eight.
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The La Jolla result may lead to starts in derbys for the first two finishers. Smooth Like Strait could start in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 6. Storm the Court remains under consideration for the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs or the Del Mar Derby, trainer Peter Eurton said immediately after the race.
Storm the Court was third for most of the La Jolla Handicap, closing in the stretch under jockey Flavien Prat.
“That’s a nice horse that beat us,” Eurton said.
Prat and Eurton discussed the result for several minutes outside of the jockey’s room. Eurton said Prat mentioned that Storm the Court could show improvement on turf, if kept on the surface.
Best known for winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last November at Santa Anita in a 45-1 upset, Storm the Court is winless in five starts this year.
Flavien “said he got over the grass pretty nice,” Eurton said. “He would continue his grass races because he thinks he will get better on it.
“I think the owners are still considering the Kentucky Derby. We’ll discuss it and make a decision in a week or two.”
Smooth Like Strait, by Midnight Lute, has won 4 of 8 starts and earned $253,323 for Cannon Thoroughbreds, who bred the colt in Kentucky. Trained by
Michael McCarthy, Smooth Like Strait won the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes here at a mile on turf last December and the War Chant Stakes at a mile on turf May 23 at Churchill Downs in his second start of 2020.
McCarthy said Smooth Like Strait is naturally a front-runner and one that seems to be improving.
“I thought for sure he would find himself on the lead,” McCarthy said. “I was surprised by the scenario that he found himself in. I take my hat off to Umberto. He never panicked. The horse looked like he was traveling well.
“I had a lot of faith.”