“TDN Rising Star” Smokem Kitten scored his first graded stakes succes with a wire-to-wire victory in the Miami Mile Saturday afternoon. Seizing the early advantage, he ticked off unpressured opening splits of :23.89 and :46.75 under Hall of Famer Edgar Prado. Showing the way into the lane, the gray began to skip clear, but favored Middleburg was just finding his best stride on the outside. However, Smokem Kitten still had more to give and managed to hold off late bids from that rival and Hothersal to score a narrow victory.
“I'm very impressed,” said Evelio Chavez, assistant to trainer Mike Maker. “After he broke the track record last time, I asked Mike, 'What's next for him?' He said, I'll have to think about it, but probably the Miami Mile. Let's get him ready for that one.' Mike took the blinkers off, and that's made all the difference. He's much more relaxed.”
“He was acting very sharp in the post parade,” Prado remarked. “When he broke so sharp and got the lead so easy, I didn't want to fight him. He was moving along so good every step of the way. At the top of the stretch, he found another gear.”
A dominant debut winner over this strip in December of 2014, Smokem Kitten faded to sixth as the favorite in last year's renewal of the GIII Dania Beach S. a month later and was subsequently shelved. Returning from a 13-month layoff in an optional claimer here Feb. 14, the 4-year-old romped by 5 1/2 lengths in a course-record time in a local optional claimer Mar. 20.
Saturday, Gulfstream Park
MIAMI MILE S.-GIII, $100,000, GP, 4-30, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:33.01, fm.
1–#@SMOKEM KITTEN, 117, c, 4, by Kitten's Joy
1st Dam: Holly Smoke, by Unbridled's Song
2nd Dam: I'm a Slick Chick, by Devil's Bag
3rd Dam: Copious, by In Reality
'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Kenneth L. & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY);
T-Michael J. Maker; J-Edgar S. Prado. $60,140. Lifetime
Record: 5-3-0-0, $105,920. Werk Nick Rating: C+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”eqb-cardioclient”]2–Middleburg, 119, h, 6, Lemon Drop Kid–Rum Charger (Ire), by
Spectrum (Ire). O-Mr. and Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone;
B-Bertram R. Firestone (VA); T-Christophe Clement. $19,400.
3–Hothersal, 117, h, 8, Smart Strike–Steel Shed, by Theatrical
(Ire). O-Mr. Amore Stable; B-Eugene Melnyk (ON); T-Jason
Servis. $9,700.[bullet ad=”ontario-bred”][bullet ad=”equix-optimatch”]Margins: HD, NK, 4 3/4. Odds: 1.90, 2.20, 7.40.
Also Ran: Quiet Force, Amigo, Aktabantay (GB), With Exultation, Conquest Tsunami. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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