Toronto, ON – Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings’ Smart Surprise, under Patrick Husbands, wired her rivals in the co-featured $100,000 Hill ‘n’ Dale Stakes, Saturday at Woodbine.
Smart Surprise fired from the inside post, setting moderate early fractions of :24.66, :49.44 and 1:13.74 in the mile and one-sixteenth test for fillies and mares, as she coasted alone on the front end. When the field turned for home, Smart Surprise had repulsed a threat from Roses ‘n’ Wine, opened three lengths at the stretch call and coasted to a 2 ¾-length score. It was the second consecutive win for the five-year-old daughter of Smart Strike, getting the distance over the Polytrack in 1:43.68. Roses ‘n’ Wine held second, with Arden Belle in third.
Trainer Josie Carroll, whose other entrant, mutuel favourite, Serenading (also owned by Hill ‘n’ Dale), finished fourth, has watched the Kentucky-bred blossom over the past two campaigns. Last year, Smart Surprise won three races, along with four seconds and one third, from eight starts. The chestnut now has three wins and one second from five starts in 2009, including a neck nod in the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes, on May 10 at the Toronto oval. Smart Surprise has six lifetime victories from 19 starts, missing the top three just once in her career, a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Azeri Stakes in March.
In addition to the winning purse of $60,000, Smart Surprise also earned her connections a complimentary stallion service from Hill ‘n’ Dale’s Kentucky breeding operation, from among sires Stormy Atlantic, who stands for $45,000, El Corredor ($25,000) or Heatseeker ($20,000). Smart Surprise’s connections will select first, followed by the second- and third-place finishers.
She paid $5.10, $3.50 and $2.50 across the board, combining with Roses ‘n’ Wine ($4, $3) for a $25.60 exactor. Arden Belle ($3.10) capped a $72.70 triactor.
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