Smooth Air Takes Gulfstream Park Handicap

Mount Joy Stables’ 4-year-old Florida homebred Smooth Air wore down the leaders in the deep stretch of the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) March 14 at Gulfstream Park to score a 1 1/4-length decision over Rolbea Throughbred Racing’s 5-year-old Finallymadeit.

Ridden by Paco Lopez, Smooth Air was making his second start this year after finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita in late October for trainer Bennie Stutts Jr. The son of Smooth Jazzrelaxed off the pace down the backstretch of the one-mile test as Finallymadeit dueled for the lead with Robert Clay’s Formidable before rallying down the outside in the field of six older horses. Formidable held third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up.

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