Seattle Smooth Wins Ogden Phipps on Belmont Dirt
Four Year Old Filly Finding Eastern Paydirt Off Western Synthetics
Jun 21, 2009
Quiet American, Street Cry, and War Chant had four-year-old daughters finish one, two, three in the $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap (G1) June 13 at Belmont Park.
Getting home first for her initial grade 1 victory was Quiet American filly Seattle Smooth, foaled by Our Seattle Star, by Seattle Song. Her trainer, Tony Dutrow, pitted her against powerful Godolphin Racing's Music Note and Seventh Street, a Street Cry progeny and Seattle Smooth's stablemate.
Seattle Smooth owner Ernie Moody decided to send his filly eastward to try dirt surface racing and the chestnut Quiet American daughter has responded resoundly.
2009 Ogden Phipps Handicap Card
Seattle Smooth, B, f, 4, (121 lbs.), Quiet American--Our Seattle Star, by Seattle Song. Owner, Mercedes Stables, LLC (Ernie Moody). Breeder, Dr. Oscar Benavides & Darley (Kentucky). Trainer, Anthony W. Dutrow.
Seventh Street, Ch, f, 4, (119 lbs.), Street Cry (IRE)--Holiday Runner, by Meadowlake. Owner, Godolphin Racing, LLC. Breeder, Steve Barberino (Kentucky). Trainer, Saeed bin Suroor.
Sea Chanter, B, f, 4, (114 lbs.), War Chant--Smooth Charmer, by Easy Goer. Owner, Darley Stable. Breeder, Stonerside Stable (Kentucky). Trainer, Todd Pletcher.
Music Note Faded On Turn Home
Darley Stable's heavily favored Sea Chanter held on for third after jockey Ramon Dominguez fired Seattle Smooth through an opening turning for home. Seventh Street had a substantial hold on the lead, but Seattle Smooth persevered in her quest to catch her stablemate, prevailing by 1-3/4 lengths as Seventh Street, coming off a 5-3/4 lengths score in the Apple Blossom Handicap, gave way.
Music Note, three-year-old victor in two of last season's three filly Triple Tiara races -- the Mother Goose and the Coaching Club American Oaks -- faded, allowing Sea Chanter to claim third.
Seattle Smooth covered the 1-1/16 miles in 1:42.13.
Seattle Smooth Has Left Synthetics Behind
Seattle Smooth owner Ernie Moody decided to send his filly eastward to try dirt surface racing, and the chestnut Quiet American daughter has run off five straight victories.
As a three-year-old, Seattle Smooth left trainer Julio Canani and California's artificial surfaces for Dutrow's East Coast barn. She responded immediately on dirt with a 7-1/4 lengths victory in the Go for Wand Stakes (G1) at Delaware Park August 30, then a 2-1/2 lengths besting of superb filly Proud Spell in the Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes (G2) at Philadelphia Park on September 20.
Debuting as a four-year-old this year after seven months off the track, Seattle Smooth scored at Aqueduct Race Course April 18 in the grade 2 Bed o' Roses Handicap. On May 16, the filly stayed smooth in a triumph in the Shuvee Handicap (G2).
Seattle Smooth Heads to Saratoga
Seattle Smooth is five for five since switching to traditional dirt surfaces and is unlikely to return to synthetic racing. She has joined the duo of three-year-old colt-beater Rachel Alexandra and five-year-old synthetics expert Zenyatta to form the year's trio of dominant females.
The chestnut filly is likely pointed to a return to the $300,000 Go for Wand Stakes scheduled for August 2 at Saratoga Race Course. She is a seven time winner from thirteen starts with earnings of $971,160.
