Country Grammer first Grade 1 winner for Tonalist
A switch to the Bob Baffert barn has proved to be a good move for Country Grammer (USA) (Tonalist {USA}) with the colt registering his first Grade 1 victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup S. at Santa Anita.
Racing 2400 metres on the dirt, Country Grammer was along the leaders as Brown Storm (Chi) (Scat Daddy {USA}) set the pace. Confronting the leader with 800 metres left to run, Country Grammer was joined by Royal Ship (Brz) (Midshipman {USA}) and a battle of wills commenced. Those two left everyone else behind with Royal Ship taking a small lead with 300 metres left to go and Country Grammer fighting back on the inside to take it back. In the final 50 metres, Royal Ship came back again but made his surge too late with Country Grammer winning by a head.
“He ran super well,” said jockey Flavien Prat. “He broke well and I was able to get myself in a good spot. I was a little bit worried when I saw Mike Smith (aboard Royal Ship) on the outside of me, I wish I could have kept him inside."
Sold as part of the dispersal of the late Paul Pompa Jnr’s stock at this year’s Keeneland January Sale, Country Grammer was sold to WinStar Farm for US$110,000 (AU$142,091). The 4-year-old is a half-brother to the Grade 3-placed Joyful Cadence (USA) (Runhappy {USA}) and continues a top weekend for Nijinsky Star (USA) (Nijinsky II {USA}).
That mare is the great-grandam of Saturday’s G3 Premier’s Cup winner Spirit Ridge (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and of G3 Matt Winn S. winner Fulsome (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) in addition to being Country Grammer’s fourth dam.
Smooth Like Strait strong in Shoemaker Mile
The fourth time was the charm for Smooth Like Strait (USA) (Midnight Lute {USA}) on Monday when he was in command from the start in the G1 Shoemaker Mile S. on the Santa Anita turf.
Racing 1600 metres on a firm turf course, Smooth Like Strait was joined by two other runners over 5l ahead of the rest of the field as they galloped around the track. By the time they entered the final 400 metres, Smooth Like Strait left them behind with jockey Umberto Rispoli taking it easy on the 4-year-old and seeing his margin shrink to a deceptively small 1.5l at the wire with Say The Word (Can) (More Than Ready {USA}) closing well for second.
“Today feels very gratifying because the horse shows up and runs hard every time,” said trainer Michael McCarthy. “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.”
Smooth Like Strait is one of two winners for the winning Flower Alley (USA) mare Smooth As Usual (USA). Also in this family are Grade 1 winners Laragh (USA) (Tapit {USA}) and Siphonic (USA) (Siphon {Brz}).
Maxim Rate adds Grade 1 to resume
Maxim Rate (USA) (Exchange Rate {USA}) returned to the stakes winner’s circle on Monday when the 5-year-old mare recorded her first Grade 1 win in the Gamely S. at Santa Anita.
Racing over 1800 metres on the turf, Maxim Rate raced in midpack just a few lengths off the leader. As they entered the final 600 metres, Juan Hernandez asked Maxim Rate to engage and she quickly obliged. The mare never opened up a big lead but opened up one big enough to earn a Grade 1 victory by 0.5l over La Signare (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) with Bodhicitta (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in third.
By the late Exchange Rate (USA), Maxim Rate is out of a half-sister to stakes-placed Choice Play (USA) (Vindication {USA}) and the dam of Group 3 winner Nomorerichblondes (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}).
