The Smith (Grade 3)- $100.000 Purse
AQU- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and Three Eighths on the Inner Turf
November 21, 2020

At the Big A on Saturday, we had the 16th running of the Smith, a race that is no longer a handicap as of this year. The purse was cut to $100.000, but that did not stop trainers from entering horses here, and the gate was nearly all the way full. After running the eleven furlongs on the inner turf course, it would be a horse that has shown potential in the past, but spent half the year running in optional claimers. That would be Wired Up, for trainer Rampage Stable, getting another chance at this level after winning an optional claimer. This time, he would step up, scoring the 11th graded win for his trainer, and the first in this stake. J Rosario was in the saddle for the win, and he also wins the Smith for the first time. Congratulations to them! The race was run in a time of 2:11.94, a little slower than past years, but all that was needed. Let’s take a look at it.

(½ Mile- :47.82)- The two runners from Nakamura Stables are the fastest out of the gate, as both Brave Diplomat and Steel Home break well. Brave Diplomat would remain at the front as his stablemate backed off it, to run two lengths back. Around the opening turn, So Lonely, from Diablo Diablo, pushed forward and continued his advance until running almost even with Brave Diplomat after half a mile. Rainbow Walk, an overwhelming longshot from Czech Out Farms had a steady start and ran third, a length ahead of Steel Home. Half a length further back, and running on the rail, is where we would find our eventual winner from Rampage Stable, Wired Up. Maybe Tonight, out of Alydar Stables ran directly beside him here. Back further, Welcome To My World (Maxmillion Farm) and Thanks For Nothing (D J C Racing Stables) are side by side, and another length to Rhossili (Asgar) and King Que Niagra (D J C Racing Stables), as they trailed the leader by five and a half. Go back another three to the trailer, Secret Dream (Night Rider Stables).

(¾ Mile- 1:11.46)- So Lonely takes the lead soon after hitting the wire the first time, and leads the way around the clubhouse turn. Brave Diplomat does not let him get away, however, and stays within half a length as they enter the backstretch. Rainbow Walk continues to stalk them in the third position, with Wired Up moving up just a tad to now be fourth, and clear of Maybe Tonight and Steel Home. Further back, the only mover was King Que Niagra, and it was not a great move, but like Wired Up, it was enough to cut about a length from the lead, and to a spot where, maybe, there would be less traffic.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Backtracking a little, because we had noteworthy action in the latter portion of the backstretch trip as both Rainbow Walk and Wired Up move down two lanes in order to pass the two pacesetters. For a moment, Rainbow Walk seemed to be the better of these two, and as they hit the top of the turn, he would poke a head in front for the lead while running four wide. Wired Up was keeping pace, and was in the three wide position. Maybe Tonight and Steel Home, who were behind those two, moved down in similar fashion, and eventually Steel Home would look to make it five wide. King Que Niagra advanced to be within two and a half lengths at the top of the turn, and Welcome To My World was looking to make a run, too. By the time they hit the top of the stretch, Rainbow Walk and Wired Up were side by side and battling it out for the lead. Wired Up put a nose in front at this point, but there were more challengers to be worrying about. King Que Niagra had steadily been advancing, but he could not hit his best stride as quickly as he would have liked due to needing to make room for the two tiring pacesetters, Brave Diplomat and So Lonely. Maybe Tonight was still hanging tough, and was within a length, and Steel Home was looking very good with his outside run. Those two were a length and a half from the lead. Welcome To My World came up empty here. Secret Dream was now running well from way back, but may have positioned himself in the stretch to run directly into traffic.

(Finish- 2:11.94)- In the stretch, especially early on in it, Wired Up was better with every stride than Rainbow Walk as well as everyone else. This allowed him to gain a length advantage, and once with that, he ran gracefully to the wire, winning by that length. King Que Niagra ran well in the stretch, too, and gets second to show for it, narrowly beating out Rainbow Walk, and Maybe Tonight. Secret Dream got up for fifth, beating Steel Home, Rhossili, So Lonely, Thanks For Nothing, Brave Diplomat, and Welcome To My World.

About The Winner- Wired Up, trained by Rampage Stabe and ridden to victory by J Rosario, is a four year old colt by Profound Connection, and is out of Seven Nuggets. He was bred in California by Rampage Stable as a third quarter two year old, the only trainer for which he has ever known. The win is his fourth in 18 starts, his second stake win, and first graded win. His career earnings are now $498.930.

Track: Firm
Time: :47⁴  1:11²  1:35²  2:11⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 10 Paid 100.40
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 10 – 1 Paid 1,232.60

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES