Shuvee a steppingstone to Breeders' Cup for Seattle Smooth

Grade 1 heroine SEATTLE SMOOTH (Quiet American), currently riding a five-race

win streak, is set to make her five-year-old debut while going for a title

defense in Saturday's $150,000

Shuvee H. (G2) at Belmont Park. Trained by Tony

Dutrow, Seattle Smooth has not competed since taking the Ogden Phipps H. (G1) at

Belmont last June. Following the race, she was found to have bruising on her

ankles and was sent to the sidelines.

"The ankle issue was never serious, but it

was there," said Dennis Yokum, racing manager of owner Mercedes Stables. "There

was never anything prescribed for her beyond rest, so we gave her time and

monitored the ankles. They responded very well to the time off. She has come

back a bit more aggressive, but she has come back very good."

Seattle Smooth

began her career competing over synthetic surfaces in California, but didn't

blossom until she was switched to conventional dirt. The bay five-year-old has

won six of seven starts over that surface, encouraging her connections to view

the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs in November as a

long-range target.

"Coming back off that long a layoff to run in a one-turn mile

against graded stakes competition is a very imposing task, but we expect her to

run a good race," Yokum said. "The Shuvee would be great to win, but she doesn't

have to win it. Her goal for this year is the Breeders' Cup."

Among Seattle Smooth's four rivals in Saturday's Shuvee is FUNNY MOON (Malibu Moon), winner of last year's Coaching Club American Oaks

(G1) at

Belmont. The four-year-old

has competed only once in 2010, with that coming as a second behind stablemate Haka

(Dynaformer) in the April 16 Doubledogdare S. (G3) over Keeneland's Polytrack.

"We were very pleased with the comeback race," said Christophe Lorieul,

assistant to trainer Christophe Clement.

"Haka had a few races in California under her belt, while Funny Moon was making

her

first start in eight months."

Funny Moon has finished worse than second only twice during her eight-race

career, with the most recent of those off-the-board runs coming as an eighth in

the Alabama S. (G1) last August. Louriel

attributed the poor effort at Saratoga to the filly's lack of mental development

at the time.

"As a three-year-old, Funny Moon was a little difficult in the paddock," Lorieul

said of the 7-2 second choice. "She seems to be more mature this year."

Jockey Alan Garcia will be reunited with Funny Moon, who drew post position 4

and will

carry 117 pounds.