- Joined
- Apr 15, 2010
- Messages
- 212,768
- Likes
- 821
- Points
- 113
Another major grass race at Fair Grounds, another tight finish. While there was a three-way photo to decide last month's Fair Grounds H. (G3), Saturday's $396,000 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial H. (G2) had four horses battling for supremacy at the wire. The victor, by a nose, turned out to be George Strawbridge's homebred Smart Bid, who had missed by a similar margin in the Gulfstream Park Turf S. (G1) in his most recent start. The 3-1 second choice in a field of eight, Smart Bid returned $8, $4.40 and $3 after completing about nine furlongs on firm ground in 1:49 4/5.
Content to track in third under a ground-saving ride by Edgar Prado, the Graham Motion-trained Smart Bid was no more than a few lengths behind at any call as Workin for Hops set splits of :24 4/5, :49 4/5 and 1:14. Tracked closely by 8-5 favorite Moryba (BRZ), Workin for Hops continued to hold that rival at bay in the stretch while Smart Bid waited until inside the final furlong to ease outside for running room. Once he got in the clear, Smart Bid steadily wore down the top pair and valiantly held off the late charge of Fair Grounds H. upsetter Expansion, who was again taken lightly by bettors at 13-1.
Expansion finished second, a head in front of Moryba, who had a neck on Workin for Hops. The exacta returned $76.60, the trifecta $256.80, and the 3-4-9-5 superfecta was worth $932.60. Not contending on this day were Joinem, Sleepless Knight, Giant's Tomb and Southern Anthem. Battle of Hastings (GB) was scratched.
Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=6261877
Content to track in third under a ground-saving ride by Edgar Prado, the Graham Motion-trained Smart Bid was no more than a few lengths behind at any call as Workin for Hops set splits of :24 4/5, :49 4/5 and 1:14. Tracked closely by 8-5 favorite Moryba (BRZ), Workin for Hops continued to hold that rival at bay in the stretch while Smart Bid waited until inside the final furlong to ease outside for running room. Once he got in the clear, Smart Bid steadily wore down the top pair and valiantly held off the late charge of Fair Grounds H. upsetter Expansion, who was again taken lightly by bettors at 13-1.
Expansion finished second, a head in front of Moryba, who had a neck on Workin for Hops. The exacta returned $76.60, the trifecta $256.80, and the 3-4-9-5 superfecta was worth $932.60. Not contending on this day were Joinem, Sleepless Knight, Giant's Tomb and Southern Anthem. Battle of Hastings (GB) was scratched.
Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=6261877
