Harry J. Aleo’s SMOKEY STOVER (Put It Back) quickly moved to the front turning
for home and pulled clear to an emphatic 4 1/2-length score in the $192,000
Potrero Grande Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) at Santa Anita on Saturday. Conditioned by
Greg Gilchrist and ridden by Aaron Gryder, the strapping gelding tracked on the
outside behind pacesetter Sailors Sunset (Petionville), who dictated splits of
:21 4/5 and :44 1/5 for the opening half-mile. On the final turn, the dark bay
overtook that one and opened up in a dazzling display, getting 6 1/2 panels in
1:14 4/5 over the fast track. The winner was sent off as the prohibitive 3-5
choice and returned $3.40, $2.20 and $2.10.
“This horse just has so much class,” Gryder said. “What I like is that as
quick as he is, he can turn it down to whatever gear you want. This is a fast
horse with great acceleration and he seems to have gotten steadily better.”
Greg’s Gold (Lake George) waited on the inside until the top of the lane but
could never get to the top one in the stretch, finishing a good second while 1
1/2 lengths clear of his nearest pursuer. Place was good for $2.80 and $2.20,
while the winning exacta gave back a paltry $3.50 ($1) with the 2-1 second
choice. Sailors Sunset stayed on for third, paying $2.40 at 4-1. Gotaghostofachance (Silver Ghost) was next and followed by My Guy (Private
Interview). Bordonaro (Memo [Chi]) was scratched.
Smokey Stover remains unbeaten from four starts in 2007, reeling off wins in
the Bay Meadows Breeders’ Cup Sprint H. (G3) and Sunshine Millions Sprint in his
last pair. The consistent speedster sports a lifetime mark of 11-7-4-0,
$459,725, which includes a tally in the Stinson Beach S.
The winner was bred in Florida by Arthur Appleton and fetched a bid of
$140,000 at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May Two-Year-Old in Training sale.
He was produced from the winning Milady’s Halo (Jolie’s Halo) and has an unnamed
two-year-old full brother.