Bid narrowly outsmarts Muniz rivals

Smart Bid (white cap) eked out his first graded win in the Muniz (Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges Jr.)

Another major grass race at Fair Grounds, another tight finish. While there

was a three-way photo to decide last month's Fair Grounds H. (G3), 

Saturday's $396,000

Mervin H.

Muniz Jr. Memorial H. (G2) had four horses battling for supremacy at the

wire. The victor, by a nose, turned out to be George Strawbridge's homebred

SMART BID (Edgar Prado), who had missed by a similar margin in the Gulfstream

Park Turf S. (G1) in his most recent start. The 3-1 second choice in a field of

eight, Smart Bid returned $8, $4.40 and $3 after completing about nine furlongs

on firm ground in 1:49 4/5.

Content to track in third under a ground-saving ride by Prado, the Graham

Motion-trained Smart Bid was no more than a few lengths behind at any call as

Workin for Hops (City Zip) set splits of :24 4/5, :49 4/5 and 1:14. Tracked

closely by 8-5 favorite Moryba (Brz) (Hard Buck [Brz]), Workin for Hops

continued to hold that rival at bay in the stretch while Smart Bid waited until

inside the final furlong to ease outside for running room. Once he got in the

clear, Smart Bid steadily wore down the top pair and valiantly held off the late

charge of Fair Grounds H. upsetter Expansion (Maria's Mon), who was again taken

lightly by bettors at 13-1.

Expansion finished second, a head in front of Moryba, who had a neck on

Workin for Hops. The exacta returned $76.60, the trifecta $256.80, and the

3-4-9-5 superfecta was worth $932.60. Not contending on this day were Joinem (Johar),

Sleepless Knight (War Chant), Giant's Tomb (Awesome Again) and Southern Anthem

(Royal Anthem). Battle of Hastings (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) was scratched.