Adam Coglianese
Bona Venture Stables’ Smooth Bert (Smooth Jazz) overtook Notacatbutallama in late stretch to win Sunday’s co-featured $80,000, one-mile Damon Runyon Stakes for New York-bred juveniles on the last day of main track racing at Aqueduct.
Coming into the Damon Runyon with a proven aptitude for off-going, Smooth Bert was bet down from his 12-1 morning line odds to third choice at 4-1 in a contentious field of eight that included: two-time stakes winner and Grade 3 Pilgrim runner-up Notacatbutallama (3-1), who was making an experimental first start on dirt for Repole-Pletcher; favorite In Harm’s Way (2-1), who ran third in Grade 2 Saratoga Special; Meeker Avenue and Laila’s Jazz, the one-two finishers in the six-furlong NYSS Great White Way; and a couple of promising-looking second-time starters.
Part of the scrum in the vanguard in the earliest stages, Smooth Bert raced four wide in third from his outside post under Mike Luzzi behind In Harm’s Way, who emerged with the lead by the time the field exited the chute.
As the field entered the far turn, Smooth Bert advanced to be a clear second five lengths behind In Harm’s Way. Notacatbutallama, who took back to seventh early, kicked into gear around the far turn and passed Smooth Bert at the quarter pole, to take over second.
In Harm’s Way continued to lead past the furlong marker, but Notacatbutallama advanced on the outside to gain the lead and Smooth Bert re-rallied at the rail. Going best in the final sixteenth, Smooth Bert struck the front and opened up three-quarters of a length by the wire. Notacatbutallama finished five lengths ahead of 24-1 longshot James Jingle, who closed from last to get third. Completing the order of finish were Giant Finish, Reaching Out, Laila’s Jazz, and Meeker Avenue.
After a half-mile in 46.65, the final time for the mile on the sloppy (sealed) track was 1:39.70. [VIDEO]
Winning rider Mike Luzzi commented, “Just by going on what [trainer Leah Gyarmati] and her assistant, Herbie, said, he’s very talented, but he’s still kind of green. He really doesn’t know what he’s doing yet. He kind of lost focus, then Rajiv [Maragh, aboard Notacatbutallama] went by me and he kind of gained his focus back and went back to running. Very talented horse, and I think he’ll improve.”
Gyarmati added, “I was a little worried turning for home when I thought we were going to be a bad third, but he kicked in and took off. [Mike Luzzi] rode him perfectly. He let him get his feet under him and let him relax, but kept him where he stayed involved.”
Gyarmati also said, “He’s a neat horse. He can probably do anything once he figures it all out. The longer, the better, and he has some speed if you want him to use it. He’s very athletic. He looks like a 5-year-old, but he’s not clumsy. He’s not one of those big horses where it takes a lot for him to get into himself. Right from the beginning, he’s been athletic.”
Smooth Bert’s first stakes victory comes in his fifth career outing. Third in his Saratoga debut in the slop at behind multiple stakes winner Weekend Hideaway, and improving to second next out at Belmont on September 19, Smooth Bert broke his maiden at third asking at Belmont while stretching out to a mile on a muddy sealed track on October 4. In his stakes debut in the Bertram Bongard on Showcase Day, the colt finished fifth after hitting the gate.
Bred by Allen Hallett in partnership with Briggs & Cromartie Bloodstock, and foaled at Hallett’s Thoroughbreds in Cato, Smooth Bert is the first stakes winner for his winning dam Little Bertie (Devil His Due), all of whose six foals to start are winners, including $127,200-earner Singalongwith Bert (Concerto).
Smooth Bert’s sire Smooth Jazz, who begin his stud career at Cloverleaf Farms in Florida in 2004, moved to Buckridge Farm in Kinderhook, where he stood in 2008 and 2009 before relocating to Ghost Ridge Farm in Pennsylvania.
Smooth Bert twice changed hands at public auction, selling as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York Preferred yearling for $45,000 to SGV Thoroughbreds, who turned him around for $60,000 to Bona Venture Stables at the 2012 OBS Spring 2-year-old sale.
With no reported foals in 2011 and 2012, Little Bertie was bred this year to D’ Funnybone.
