Mercedes Stables LLC’s SEATTLE SMOOTH (Quiet American) was blocked briefly in
the stretch of Saturday’s $150,000
Shuvee H.
(G2), but swung out and ran down Color Me Up (Aptitude) to post a
three-quarter of a length victory with jockey Ramon Dominguez aboard. Trained by
Tony Dutrow, the bay four-year-old stopped the clock in 1:35 4/5 for a mile on
the fast Belmont Park dirt track and paid $2.50, $2.20 and $2.10 as the 1-5
favorite.
Granted Tiger (Tiger Ridge) moved up to set splits of :23 1/5, :45 4/5 and
1:10 2/5 when the doors opened, tracked all the while by Color Me Up and Are We Dreamin (Yes It’s True) to her outside. At the same time,
Dominguez saved ground aboard Seattle Smooth along the rail, trailing in last
early before slowly making their way up. The pair were forced to angle out to
the four path in midstretch and appeared for a moment to have too much to do as
Color Me Up grabbed the advantage in the lane. Seattle Smooth, however, wasn’t
done, kicking into gear and pulling off to furnish exotics worth $26 (exacta)
and $64 (1-4-5 trifecta).
Color Me Up held second by a half-length, returning $7.20 and $3.70 as the
19-1 second longest shot on the board. Sea Chanter (War Chant) was easily third
best, 6 1/4 lengths clear of Granted Tiger, and gave back $2.20 as the 7-2
second choice. Striking Tomisue (Smart Strike) and Are We Dreamin completed the
order under the wire.
Seattle Smooth is now undefeated from four starts since transferring to
Dutrow, taking the Go for Wand S. and Cotillion S. (G2) to round out her
three-year-old campaign, and making her 2009 bow a 5 3/4-length victory in the
Bed o’ Roses H. (G2). She also captured the Bay Meadows Oaks and placed in the
Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) and California Oaks in 2008 for trainer Julio Canani.
The bay lass has now earned $791,160 to go along with a 12-6-1-1 line.
Bred in Kentucky by Dr. Oscar Benavides and Darley, Seattle Smooth is out of
the unraced Seattle Song mare Our Seattle Star, who has also produced an unnamed
yearling colt by Quiet American and a 2009 Henny Hughes filly. Seattle Smooth
sold to her current owner for $340,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Selected
yearling.
Plans call for Seattle Smooth to aim for the June
13 Ogden Phipps H. (G1), followed by the August 2 Go for Wand H. (G1).