Smudgeledo shows he's the real deal

CALGARY, Alberta - Smudgeledo, owned by Montana cattleman Lloyd DeBruycker and trained by Greg Tracy, has not received much respect at this Stampede Park meet.

Sent off at 11-1 on Saturday, Smudgeledo broke very alertly from post 4 and never faced a serious challenge in the Teeworth Plate, romping home 5 1/2 lengths in front of Hastings shipper True Metropolitan with fellow Vancouver invader Five Point Star another 2 3/4 lengths back in third.

The Teeworth was only the latest time Smudgeledo has proved himself.

Let go at better than 7-1 in the Stampede Park Sprint Championship despite an impressive win in an allowance prep, Smudgeledo led every step of the way to capture that $50,000 handicap here April 29.

Racing secretary Russ Armstrong acknowledged the performance by adding three pounds for Smudgeledo's engagement in the Teeworth. But the lack of respect for Smudgeledo had stretched to the riding colony, as Quincy Welch, who rode him to

victory in the sprint, opted to ride Beau Brass when entries were taken for the one-mile Teeworth.

Real Simard, taken off Beau Brass, was open and Tracy gave him the call. Smudgeledo completed the mile in a quick 1:36.40.

"He really broke sharply for me, and I never had to ask him until the head of the lane," Simard said.

Next up for this division is the 1 1/16-mile Herald Gold Plate on June 11.