Get Smokin and jockey Junior Alvarado gift-wrap an early 92nd birthday present for owner Mary Abeel Sullivan in the Grade III Tampa Bay Stakes (courtesy SV Photography)
In the Grade III, $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes for older horses on a firm turf surface, Get Smokin and Alvarado powered to the front in the stretch and lasted for a ¾-length victory from Eons, trained by Arnaud Delacour and and ridden by Camacho. Admission Office finished third.
The winner’s time was 1:40.75.
Get Smokin, by Get Stormy out of Hookah Lady, by Smoke Glacken, is a 4-year-old gelding owned by the Mary Abeel Sullivan Revocable Trust and trained by Thomas M. Bush, who received a call from the owner immediately after the race.
“(Abeel Sullivan) lives in Vero Beach and watched it on TV, and she is thrilled. She will be 92 on Monday and is very excited,” Bush said. “(Get Smokin) was ready today. (Junior Alvarado) rode a beauty, for sure. Our horse was coming into it great. We gave him a little freshening after he ran in California, and he has really responded since he got to Florida. He’s been in the feed tub and we were really hoping he would run this race and he did.”
Get Smokin paid $10 to win as the second choice in the 12-horse field.
Chad Brown Scores In The (G3) Lambholm South Endeavor Stakes
In the Grade III, $175,000 Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes for older fillies and mares, Klaravich Stables’ Counterparty Risk cut the corner turning for home under jockey John Velazquez and held firm for a 1-length victory from New York Girl and Alvarado. Margaret’s Joy rallied for third.
The 4-year-old Ireland-bred winner, making only her fourth start, is trained by Chad Brown. Her time for the mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass was 1:43.20. Counterparty Risk is by Australia, out of the Acclamation mare Anklet.
The victory was the fourth on the card for Velazquez. The favorite, Counterparty Risk paid $3.80 for her second career victory.
“She’s a real exciting prospect for us moving forward,” Brown said by telephone. “(Her winning a Grade III in her fourth start) is a credit to her and my team. She has had some injuries, none serious, but always inconveniencing and requiring patience.
“(Owner) Seth Klarman is extremely patient and always puts the horses’ interests first. She ran super today and got a terrific ride from Johnny V, which is what you expect from a Hall of Famer. She shot through the opening turning for home and showed a great turn of foot. We are very grateful for her ability and my team’s preparation,” Brown said.
In the remaining stakes, the $150,000 Suncoast Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, Breeze Easy, LLC’s Curlin’s Catch split horses turning for home and rolled to a 4 ½-length victory from Be Sneaky, with Il Malocchio gaining third. Curlin’s Catch completed the mile-and-40-yard distance on the main track in 1:40.89.
Antonio Gallardo rode the winner for Breeze Easy and Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. Curlin’s Catch improved to 2-for-4. Be Sneaky’s effort under jockey Hector Diaz, Jr., gave trainer Delacour his second stakes runner-up finish on the card.
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