Speed duel aids D'wild Ride

With only four 3-year-old fillies in the $63,050 Just Smashing at Monmouth, you'd think they could have avoided a speed duel in the 5 1/2-furlong race. Tell that to those who bet the 9-10 favorite Mikeslittlegirl, who battled with the 12-1 Fist of the Fleet through a half-mile in 45.19 seconds, setting up the stalkers D'wild Ride and Sumptuous.

D'wild Ride, off slowly under Joe Bravo, took the lead in the stretch and kept Sumptuous at bay to win by a half-length. D'wild Ride, by D'wildcat, covered the distance in 1:03.22 and paid $6.80. Mikeslittlegirl finished third.

The victory was the third straight for D'wild Ride, who won a maiden-claiming race at Fair Grounds in January and a five-furlong optional-claiming turf sprint at Gulfstream in April. She is owned by Silly Goose Racing Stable and trained by Joe Orseno.

Beau's Valentine and Sunday Strike were scratched from the Just Smashing.