Seattle Smooth makes it five straight in Phipps

Mercedes Stables' SEATTLE SMOOTH (Quiet American) was content to stalk in

fourth just off the rail during the early running of Saturday's $300,000

Ogden

Phipps H. (G1) at Belmont Park, came out into the three path at the top of the

lane and gamely outdueled Seventh Street (Street Cry [Ire]) to take the 1

1/16-mile test by 1 1/4 lengths. With Ramon Dominguez aboard, the Tony

Dutrow-trained bay was sent off the 2-1 second choice in the seven-horse field

that included a three-prong entry, and paid out $6.20 and $2.30 for stopping the

clock in 1:42 over the good main track.

Seventh Street was quickest from the gate, moving up to post a first quarter

in :23 2/5 while closely tracked by My Dinah (Victory Gallop) to her inside.

Meanwhile, Seattle Smooth and Dominguez were running along the rail with Music

Note (A.P. Indy) just to their outside. My Dinah moved up and took over through

a half-mile in :46 1/5 and six furlongs in 1:09 4/5, but Seventh Street was

keeping pace all the while to her outside. Rounding the turn, Music Note and Sea

Chanter (War Chant) suddenly appeared on the outside as they put in their bids.

Seattle Smooth found a wall of horses in front of her entering the stretch

run, but Dominguez stayed calm and waited for an opening to send his filly

through. That opening appeared and Seattle Smooth prowled up to the outside of

Seventh Street just as that one shook off her other rivals. Seattle Smooth

easily overhauled the pace dueler and drew off to earn her fifth straight

victory.

"The race unfolded very well for us," Dutrow said. "Immediately, we were in a

great situation. Our situation brightened at the quarter-pole when they all

went, and the last sixteenth of a mile, Seattle Smooth finished up. She was

sitting beautifully and I was happy to see it.

"I do think Seattle Smooth is a very good two-turn filly. She was good today

(going one turn) -- she had to be -- but I like her at two turns. We're so

overwhelmed, so humbled and proud of her."

Seventh Street easily held second by 2 1/4 lengths over entrymate Sea

Chanter. Each filly paid $2.10 as the 1-5 favorite and ended the $9.60 exacta.

My Dinah was another 4 1/4 length back in fourth, completing the 3-1-2 trifecta

that was worth $33.80. Music Note, the other part of the entry, ran fifth in her

return off a more than seven-month layoff, while Color Me Up (Aptitude) and

Nicksappealinglady (Successful Appeal) rounded out the order under the wire.

Seattle Smooth broke her maiden at Hollywood Park in December 2007, then went

on to just miss taking her stakes bow in the California Oaks by a neck two

months later. She would add a win in the Bay Meadows Oaks and a third in the

Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) to her line, but was transferred from the barn of Julio

Canani to Dutrow following a well-beaten ninth in the San Clemente H. (G2) last

July. Seattle Smooth immediately stepped up to record a 7 1/4-length victory in

the Go for Wand S. for her new trainer, and then made a successful return to

graded competition when taking the Cotillion S. (G2) over eventual champion

Proud Spell to round out her three-year-old season. The bay miss has continued

her winning ways as a four-year-old, capturing the Bed o' Roses H. (G2) and Shuvee H. (G2) in her past two races. By winning the Ogden Phipps, she now shows

five consecutive stakes scores, and improved her record to 13-7-1-1, $971,160.

Bred in Kentucky by Dr. Oscar Benavides and Darley, Seattle Smooth is out of

the unraced Seattle Song mare Our Seattle Star, who has also produced an unnamed

yearling colt by Quiet American and a 2009 Henny Hughes filly. Seattle Smooth

sold to her current owner for $340,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Selected

yearling.

Plans now call for Seattle Smooth to contest the Go For Wand H. (G1) at

Saratoga on August 2.