Smokinpaddylassie rallies to prompt Oaks dreams
HOW IT HAPPENED
Smokinpaddylassie rallied up the rail to run down leader Limited View and win Saturday’s $100,000 Beyond the Wire Stakes for three-year-old fillies at Laurel Park — prompting trainer Eddie Coletti to announce his filly would make her next start in the Grade 2, $300,000 Gazelle Stakes April 7 at Aqueduct, with a date in the Kentucky Oaks possible after that.
Smokinpaddylassie broke alertly and attended Limited View’s early pace before apparently losing focus, as Limited View, the favorite, opened a 5 1/2-length lead by the time she hit the quarter-pole.
But Smokinpaddylassie regained her focus, shifted inside while Limited View drifted wide, and rallied determinedly to draw clear late, winning off by 2 1/4 lengths. Limited View held second, while Mo Shopping was third.
Running time for the one-turn mile was 1:38.02.
QUOTABLE
“I’m going to take a shot (at the Oaks). She hasn’t done nothing wrong not to think that hard. She’s got the distance pedigree.
“Why not take the shot? We got to go to the Gazelle, we’ll see what happens in the Gazelle. You’ve got to set a plan, that’s my plan.
“She’s got such a stride on her.”
— Trainer Eddie Coletti, Jr.
“My filly just, like, backed off (when Limited View got away early). She was lost. It was way too early to ask her. I just saved ground. When she felt the horse came up to her, she started running. I said, ‘Let’s go,’ and she responded.
“You know she’s a racehorse. She just hasn’t got it completely.”
— Jockey John Bisono
FACTS AND FIGURES
- Winner paid: $7.40 – $3.80 – $3.20
- Winning time: 1:38.02
- Margins: 2 1/4 lengths from Smokinpaddylassie to Limited View, a head from Limited View to Mo Shopping
- Winner’s record: 3-3-0-0, purse earnings of $137,280
CONNECTIONS
- Owner: Edward Bruzek
- Breeder: Richard Simoff, bred in Pennsylvania
- Pedigree: Paddy O’Prado-Smoking Kitty, by Macho Uno
- Jockey: John Bisono
