Smooth Air Wins Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Mount Joy Stables Florida-bred Smooth Air ridden by jockey Manoel Cruz won by a length over Silver Edition in the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 5.
The Hutcheson Stakes was the first in Gulfstream Park’s schedule of preparatory races for 3-year-olds leading to the $1 million Florida Derby on March 29 and the $2 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3.
Trained by Bennie Stutts Jr., Smooth Air ran the distance of 7 furlongs in 1:23.21 and paid $20.60, $9.40 and $5.40. Coming in one length behind, Silver Edition under jockey Rene Douglas returned $12.20 and $6.20. Halo Najib with jockey Kent Desormeaux came third and paid $2.80 to show.
“I’ve been training for 40 years, and this is the biggest race I’ve ever won,” horse trainer Bennie Stutts said. “It’s a Grade 2, right? I’m coming up in the world.”
Bennie Stutts said he might ship Smooth Air to run in the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint at Santa Anita Park on January 26.
Completing the lineup of horses that participated in the Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park are: Golden Spikes, Big Truck, Tiz It, Coal Play and Notgivinmyloveaway. Cool Coal Man and Grand Minstrel were scratched.
"Smooth Air Wins Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park" was posted on 5 January 2008 9:28 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Kentucky Derby, Stakes Races
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