Grade 2 Smile Stakes Highlights Gulfstream Card
The Grade 2, $250,000 Smile Stakes has drawn a field of seven for the July 2 sprint showdown at Gulfstream Park in a competitive betting race.
Limousine Liberal (2/1) has shown flashes of major ability, but has yet to put everything together against graded stakes competition. The Ben Colebrook trainee opened 2016 with a rousing allowance score at Keeneland, but could fare no better than sixth against a strong field in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes May 7. Last out, the speedy son of Successful Appeal was taken off the pace unexpectedly and rallied wide to finish second against a multiple stakes winner. Luis Saez will take over the mount while breaking from post 3. If Limousine Liberal is ready to fire, he may simply be too classy for this bunch.
Delta Bluesman goes for stakes score
The hard-knocking veteran Delta Bluesman (5/2) was an allowance winner June 11 at Monmouth and could be over-bet if sent to post near his morning line odds. While it’s difficult to knock this runner too much, he could simply be overmatched by a younger, more talented field. The Jorge Navarro trainee has won 8 of 42 career starts without winning a stakes race.
Eighty Three tries better
Eighty Three (3/1) is another allowance type looking for black type. The David Jacobson trainee has won 4 of 12 starts and will look to snap a three race losing streak where the five year-old gelding finished second twice to go with a third-place effort.
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