Smart Uncle wears down Roja Redemption in G1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial

Mrs. S. K. Johnston, Jr.’s Smart Uncle made his graded debut a winning one when pouncing from off the pace to edge stablemate Roja Redemption in the stretch and capture Wednesday’s Grade 1, $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial, a 2 3/8-mile steeplechase handicap for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Jack Fisher, the 6-year-old Uncle Mo gelding improved from a third last out in a one-mile flat allowance on July 9 at Colonial Downs, and earned his first win since taking a flat maiden special weight last August at Delaware Park, improving his lifetime ledger to 22-5-4-4.

Fisher said he was proud of the effort from both his trainees.

“Smart Uncle is a better horse than I thought he was,” Fisher said. “Roja Redemption, I knew what he is…and I thought he ran great. He [Smart Uncle] ran that other horse down…they both ran him down, surprised me."

Jamie Bargary engineered the winning ride atop Smart Uncle, and settled him in fourth early as seven of the eight contenders raced in a compact group behind the Evan Dwan-piloted runaway pacesetter Take Your Seats, with positions largely unchanged throughout the first three turns.

“We’ve raced against him quite a bit,” Bargary said of Take Your Seats. “The only worry today was he [Dwan] got a breather into him, but we still got to him and got to racing plenty early enough.”

Roja Redemption made an early move passing the wire for the second time, and was in contention approaching the third turn while McTigue was coaxed up from the rear of the field and Take Your Seats’ advantage waned. Smart Uncle advanced into second after the penultimate jump, and had his sights set on Roja Redemption through the final fence as the Graham Watters-piloted favorite McTigue, who loomed right on his flank, stumbled and fell.

Roja Redemption held a large lead exiting the final turn with Smart Uncle well clear of St James the Great in third and Fil Dor commencing his run from well back. Roja Redemption dug in gamely through the lane under Freddie Procter, but Smart Uncle wore him down with an outside bid to claim the three-quarter-length victory in a final time of 4:42.76.

Fil Dor, carrying 16 pounds more than Smart Uncle, surged on the inside to claim second by a neck over Roja Redemption. It was 5 3/4 lengths back to fourth-place Salted Carmel, while St James the Great, L’Avvocato and Take Your Seats completed the order of finish.

McTigue was collared by the outrider and, per The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) veterinary department, sustained minor lacerations and was provided a precautionary ride back to the barn in the equine ambulance. Watters visited onsite first aid and walked out under his own power.

Bargary said the trip was ideal for Smart Uncle.  

“That went perfectly,” he said. “Exactly how I planned it out last night in bed was how it worked out. Lovely to have a lead turned in and I didn’t go until I straightened up because I knew he had that turn-of-foot. We were plenty confident coming in and super happy that it’s actually come off.”

Fisher said both Smart Uncle and Roja Redemption will now point to the 2 3/8-mile Grade 1, $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard Memorial on September 2 here.

Conor Tierney, aboard Fil Dor, praised the effort from the Grade 1-winning Ricky Hendriks trainee as the 158-pound highweight.

“Everything went perfect,” Tierney said. “I was in the perfect spot that I wanted to be in. It is just that he was giving the winner 16 pounds, which took its toll the last couple of strides, but I’m very happy with the run. He was very willing right to the line. I couldn’t be happier with that.”

Bred in Kentucky by George Strawbridge, Jr., Smart Uncle is out of the Smart Strike mare Smart Together, a daughter of 2008 Champion Turf Female Forever Together. He earned $90,000 in victory while returning $10.08 on a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Saratoga with a 10-race card, featuring the state-bred $200,000 John Morrissey in Race 9. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern. 

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