Contender Status
Smooth Air clearly punched his ticket to Louisville with his second place finish to Big Brown in the Florida Derby (G1).
"We're going to the Kentucky Derby [Presented by Yum! Brands (G1)]," trainer Bennie Stutts Jr. said the morning after the Florida Derby.
"It's not hard to take $200,000 for finishing second. The key to him is that he's able to rate. He broke sharp yesterday near the lead, but [jockey Manoel] Cruz was able to ease him back off the pace."
Smooth Air arrived at Churchill Downs on April 20 and appeared happy with his new surroundings.
"This horse is a trainer's dream," Stutts said. "He's a little horse that doesn't think he's so little."
May 1 - Three furlongs breezing in :38.20 at Churchill Downs, track fast. Tenth best of 19 workouts at the distance.
"He just needed to blow out some of this Kentucky Air," trainer Bennie Stutts Jr. said. "I've never blown him out in the past [two days before a race]; I always breezed him. But we had to do something different this time. What I see, I like. I'd rather that he go slower than faster at this point."
April 19 - Seven furlongs handily in 1:25.80 at Calder Race Course, track fast. Only workout at the distance.
April 13 - One mile handily in 1:41.00 at Calder Race Course, track fast. Best of three workouts at the distance.
Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Yum! Brands on May 3 at Churchill Downs
Trainer Bennie Stutts Jr. after Smooth Air worked seven furlongs in 1:23.60 at Gulfstream Park on March 16:
"I keep saying it. This is the best horse I've ever trained. I've never had a horse work like that. He does things so easily. I'm excited."