Spun to Run game in stretch of Smarty Jones

Trainer Carlos Guerrero has a lot of faith in Spun to Run, which is why he equipped the 3-year-old son of Hard Run with blinkers and ran him in the Grade 1 Haskell, where he finished third behind Maximum Security and Mucho Gusto.

On Monday, in the Grade 3, $300,000 Smarty Jones at Parx, Spun to Run rewarded Guerrero’s confidence with a hard-fought head victory over Gray Magician in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds.

Click here to read article from DRF.

Spun to Run was into the bridle from the start of the Smarty Jones under jockey Paco Lopez, settling into a tracking position along the inside behind Bethlehem Road, Top Line Growth and a three-wide Majid, who did not break sharply. It was several lengths farther back to 8-5 Gray Magician.

Majid began to retreat on the backstretch, and on the far turn Lopez eased Spun to Run up between Bethlehem Road and Top Line Growth. Spun to Run took a short lead nearing the quarter pole as Gray Magician was making a sharp move to the leaders four wide under Corey Lanerie.

Entering the stretch, Gray Magician had all the momentum and took the lead. But Spun to Run wouldn’t quit and began to come on again. Spun to Run and Gray Magician bumped solidly in deep stretch twice as Lopez worked his mount left-handed, and in the end Spun to Run retook the lead.

It was 4 1/2 lengths back from Gray Magician to Top Line Growth in third. After that came Cairo Cat, Bethlehem Road and Majid.

Spun to Run, surprisingly bet down to 3-2, paid $5 as the favorite. He was timed in 1:44.14, following fractions of 23.25, 47.36, 1:11.99, and 1:37.44.

Now 3 for 8, Spun to Run earned $177,900, nearly doubling his income to $360,520.

Cathryn Sophia: Jeltrin pulls away

Jeltrin led throughout to win the $150,000 Cathryn Sophia by 7 3/4 lengths, but the race really wasn’t that simple.

Jeltrin set the early pace while well out from the inner rail in the mile and 70-yard race for 3-year-old fillies. She was joined from the outside on the backstretch by Jennifer’s Dream and 7-10 favorite Fashion Faux Pas. Jennifer’s Dream dropped back nearing the far turn, leaving Jeltrin and Fashion Faux Pas on the lead.

Midway on the far turn, Fashion Faux Pas appeared to lose her action momentarily in her hind legs and was taken up sharply for a second or two by jockey Daniel Centeno.

Fashion Faux Pas did not appear injured, and Centeno commenced riding her again before easing her through the stretch. After the race, Centeno stayed aboard Fashion Faux Pas and brought her back to be unsaddled.

Trainer Arnaud Delacour, a half-hour after the race, said he was “not quite sure what happened but it is possible the filly behind them [Jennifer’s Dream] may have clipped her hind heels or maybe she just lost her action.

“Regardless, I have just watched her walk at the barn and she is doing fine. It is possible we could bring her back in 19 days for the Charles Town Oaks if she is okay.”

When Fashion Faux Pas dropped back on the far turn, it left Jeltrin on a sizable lead, which she lengthened in the stretch.

Grandaria finished second, Queen of Beas was third.

Jeltrin paid $12.20 and was timed in 1:44.18. She is owned and trained by Alexis Delgado.