# Smooth Like Strait Runs Gate to Wire to Win Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita

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Last modified: 2021-06-01

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By Paul Ebeling · 2021-06-01
Tags: racing, Paul Ebeling, Horse, Horse Racing, breeders, USA, Breeders Cup, ho, SantaAnit, SantaAnita, ShoemakerMile
Signed: no (published before platform launch).
Nothing in this article is investment advice.

#SantaAnita #Breeders'Cup #ShoemakerMile #horse #racing

Monday, Smooth Like Strait broke through in his 4th attempt at winning a Grade I stakes, going gate to wire under Umberto Rispoli to take the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita.

A 4-yr-old Midnight Lute colt, Smooth Like Strait came up a neck short in the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day and the Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita in his past 2 races. He lost the Hollywood Derby at Del Mar by a head in November.

But the 4th time was the charm for the horse and Rispoli, who has ridden Smooth Like Strait in his last 6 starts.

The victory gave Smooth Like Strait, who is not nominated to the Breeders’ Cup, an all-expenses-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on November 6 provided the colt’s connections pay a $50,000 nomination fee by July 15 or $100,000 by Oct. 25.

Pressed early by Restrainedvengence and Whisper Not, Smooth Like Strait, the 3-5 favorite, put that pair away and then withstood a late bid by Say the Word to win by 1½ lengths and increase his career bankroll to $933,823 with the 1st-place check of $180,000.

The final time for the 1 mile over a firm turf course was 1:34.19.

“*The horse responded beautifully to Umberto,*” winning trainer Michael McCarthy said. “*They have become quite the partnership. I’m super happy for the horse and the connections. I don’t think he was getting the respect he deserved earlier in the year, but he showed up and put together a nice campaign.*

“*He was so relaxed for Umberto out there today. I’ve had an immense amount of faith in this horse all along. I really believe that there are big things coming for him later in the year.*”

Smooth Like Strait again displayed his fondness for the Santa Anita turf course, winning for the 4th time in 8ht starts with 2 seconds and a 3rd.

*“I love the way he runs*,” Mr. Rispoli said. *“He puts himself in the race, he doesn’t cheat and he’s a fighter. That’s what we jockeys like, we fight with them and go down to the wire together and get the job done.”*

Restrainedvengence hung around for 3rd, 1¾ lengths behind Say the Word and a neck in front of 4th-place finisher Next Shares.

Have a healthy week, Keep the Faith!

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