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Maxim Rate Springs $29.80 Surprise In Santa Anita’s Gamely

With the mile and one-eighth distance taking its toll, heavily favored Charmaine's Mia faltered in the final sixteenth in Monday's Grade 1, $300,000 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., and longshot Maxim Rate, ridden for the first time by Juan Hernandez, took full advantage as she lengthened her stride when it counted to win by a half-length. Trained by Simon Callaghan, Maxim Rate got the 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:46.61.

Charmaine's Mia, a winner of three consecutive graded stakes at shorter distances coming into the Gamely, took her customary position on the lead but hit the deep end of the pool a sixteenth of a mile from home and Maxim Rate, who stalked the pace while fourth early, was able to take full advantage while holding off a late run from French-bred La Signare.

“We knew she was training really well coming into this race,” said Callaghan. “We felt that the set up (would) be perfect. A mile and an eighth, back here in California, I think is totally her game. We had some speed to run at and it actually turned out exactly how we wrote up the race (in advance).

“The Grade I was our main aim and to pull it off is fantastic for all of the owners, all of the Slam Dunk team, everyone involved. Now, we'll just space the races out and it will be nice to get to the Breeders' Cup.”

A winner of Santa Anita's G2 Goldikova Stakes at a flat mile on turf three starts back on Oct. 25, Maxim Rate was then fifth in her last two starts, the G1 Matriarch at Del Mar Nov. 29 and the G1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland April 10.

Off at 13-1 in a field of seven fillies and mares three and up, Maxim Rate paid $29.80, $12.00 and $7.40.

A 5-year-old mare by Exchange Rate out of the Unbridled's Song mare Catch My Eye, Maxim Rate, who is owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Stable Currency, LLC and James Branham, notched her third graded stakes win and her fourth win from eight starts over the Santa Anita lawn. With the winner's share of $180,000, she increased her earnings to $597,185 while improving her overall mark to 16-6-3-0.

“She broke out of there, really clean break, she relaxed really well for me,” said Hernandez. “She's a very classy filly, you can do whatever you want with her. I had a really good trip and I just waited for the quarter pole to start working on her and when I asked her to go, she took off. She's a very nice filly.”

Ridden for the first time by Mike Smith, La Signare had two horses beat turning for home and proved second best, finishing a half length in front of English-bred Bodhicitta. Based in the Midwest with trainer Brendan Walsh and making her first start at Santa Anita, La Signare was off at 9-2 and paid $6.00 and $4.20.

Idle since Nov. 29, the Richard Baltas-trained Bodhicitta, next to last at the top of the lane, was up to nip last year's Gamely winner, Keeper Ofthe Stars, by a neck for third. Ridden for the first time by Trevor McCarthy, Bodhicitta was off at 12-1 and paid $8.00 to show.

Charmaine's Mia, who was off at 4-5 with Flavien Prat up, finished sixth, beaten nearly four lengths.

Fractions on the race were 22.82, 45.94, 1:09.86 and 1:34.36.

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Country Grammer Holds Royal Ship At Bay To Win Hollywood Gold Cup

In an ultra-game performance, Bob Baffert's Country Grammer battled back inside the length of the stretch and prevailed by a head over Brazilian-bred Royal Ship in Monday's Grade 1, $300,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Country Grammer got 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.23 and thus provided Baffert with his eighth Gold Cup win—equaling the legendary Charlie Whittingham, who registered his final Gold Cup win with Ferdinand in 1987.

A measured second, about a half length off of longshot pacesetter Brown Storm a half mile from home, Country Grammer gained the advantage mid-way around the far turn but was immediately engaged to his outside by Royal Ship, who appeared to be in control a furlong from the wire. Country Grammer battled back, however, and got the job done, giving Prat his first-ever Gold Cup win.

“He ran super well,' said Prat. “He broke well and I was able to get myself in a good spot. I was a little worried when I saw Mike Smith (aboard Royal Ship) on the outside of me, I wish I could have kept him inside. Mike took the lead on me, but my horse was really game to come back.”

A 4-year-old colt by Tonalist who had run his first six races for eastern-based Chad Brown, Country Grammer made his debut for Baffert in the Grade II Californian here on April 17, finishing second by a neck to Royal Ship.

Ridden for the first time today by Prat, Country Grammer was off as the 9-5 favorite in a field of seven 3-year-olds and up and paid $5.60, $3.20 and $2.60.

Owned by WinStar Farm, LLC, Country Grammer, who is out of the Forestry mare Arabian Song, took his second graded stakes and now has three wins from eight starts. With the winner's share of $180,000, he increased his earnings to $377,320.

“Elliot Walden and WinStar bought him to bring to California because they figured a mile and a quarter was his distance,” said Baffert. “His form on the dirt was really good last year. It looked like he was beat today, but he kicked it in…It's exciting. He ran a big race last time and just got beat. He was really ready to go today and I think the distance was the key. He got it done with a lot of class and determination.”

Ridden by Mike Smith, Royal Ship was trying a mile and a quarter for the first time and was gallant in defeat, finishing some 4 ¼ lengths clear of Express Train. Off at 3-1, Royal Ship paid $4.20 and $2.80.

Last early, Express Train rallied for third money, finishing a half length better than Rushie. The second choice at 2-1 with Juan Hernandez, Express Train paid $2.40 to show.

Fractions on the 84^rd Hollywood Gold Cup were 22.92, 47.16, 1:12.09 and 1:37.18.

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No Denying Smooth Like Strait From Grade 1 Victory In Shoemaker Mile

Although he was pressed hard early, Cannon Thoroughbreds homebred Smooth Like Strait unleashed a devastating turn of foot the final quarter of a mile to take Monday's Grade 1, $300,000 Shoemaker Mile by 1 ½ lengths under Umberto Rispoli, who collected his third win of the day at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Smooth Like Strait, a 4-year-old colt by Midnight Lute, got the mile on grass in 1:34.19.

With the Shoemaker Mile being a Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier, Smooth Like Strait will be entitled to an automatic entry to the 2021 Breeders' Cup Mile, to be run at Del Mar on Nov. 6.

Breaking alertly from his number two post position, Smooth Like Strait went to the lead, but was pressed by both Say the Word and Restrainedvengeance, with Say the Word never more than a half length back to his outside in the run to the quarter pole, whereupon Smooth Like Strait opened up a length and half as he straightened up for the stretch run.

“The horse responded beautifully to Umberto, they have become quite the partnership,” said McCarthy, who along with Rispoli, had suffered through a pair of gut-wrenching neck defeats in the G1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs May 1 and in the G1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 6. “I'm super happy for the horse and the connections. I don't think he was getting the respect he deserved earlier in the year, but he showed up and put together a nice campaign. He was so relaxed for Umberto out there today.

“I've had an immense amount of faith in this horse all along, and I really believe that there are big things coming for him later in the year.”

A four-time graded stakes winner coming into today, Smooth Like Strait was off at 3-5 in a field of six three-year-olds and up and paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.20.

Out of the Flower Alley mare Smooth As Usual, Smooth Like Strait now has seven wins from 15 starts and with the winner's share of $180,000, increased his earnings to $93,823.

“I love the way (he) runs, (he) puts himself in the race, (he doesn't) cheat and (he's a fighter,)” said Rispoli, who has orchestrated all four of Smooth Like Strait's graded stakes victories. “That's what we jockeys like, we fight with them and go down to the wire together and get the job done.”

Far back early, Say the Word rallied well through the lane to be second by 1 ¾ lengths in front of Restrainedvengeance. The second choice at 5-2 with Flavien Prat, Say the Word paid $3.40 and $2.80.

Ridden by Tyler Baze, Restrainedvengeance was off at 19-1 and paid $3.60 to show while finishing a neck in front of Next Shares.

Fractions on the race were 23.46, 46.43, 1:10.09 and 1:22.04.

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Diamond Oops Tuning Up For Gulfstream’s Summit Of Speed

With the Summit of Speed just a month away, next Saturday's $60,000 Hollywood Lakes and $75,000 Game Face at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., will serve as key local preps for several entrants.

Millionaire Diamond Oops figures to be the one to beat in the Hollywood Landing, a six-furlong overnight handicap for 3-year-olds and up that will serve as a prep for the $200,000 Smile Sprint (G3) July 3 at Gulfstream.

The six-furlong Smile will co-headline the Summit of Speed card with the $350,000 Princess Rooney (G2), a seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares that has been designated as a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' race.

Diamond Oops captured the 2019 edition of the Smile Sprint before going on to finish second in Grade 1 stakes back-to-back, once on dirt at Saratoga and once on turf at Keeneland. He started his 2020 campaign with a solid fourth-place finish in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream while stretching out to 1 1/8 miles. Back at one turn, Diamond Oops won the Twin Spires Turf (G2) at Churchill and the Phoenix (G2) on dirt at Keenland before getting a break following a pair of off-the-board finishes in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland and the Mr. Prospector (G3) at Gulfstream. The son of Lookin At Lucky, who is owned by trainer Patrick Biancone, Diamond 100 Racing Club and partners, is coming off a fourth-place finish in the April 30 Twin Spires Turf.

Ournationonparade, a two-time optional claiming allowance winner during the Championship Meet, is being pointed to the Hollywood Lakes and could give Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and trainer Kathy Ritvo a third Smile prospect.

Dean and Patti Reeves and Ritvo already have a pair of strong prospects for the Smile in Double Crown and Frosted Grace. Double Crown, who closed out his 2020 campaign with a runner-up finish in the Chick Lang (G3) at Pimlico in October, came off a 6 ½-month layoff a late-rallying triumph over multiple-stakes winner Chance It in a May 23 stakes-quality allowance at Gulfstream, setting up a likely rematch in the Smile. Frosted Grace, who finished second behind Grade 1 winner Mischevious Alex in the Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) during the Championship Meet, is coming off a third-place finish in the Maryland Sprint (G3) at Pimlico following a very troubled start.

John Minchello's Competitive Speed, who was twice graded stakes-placed during the Championship Meet, is scheduled to make her first start since finishing off the board in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in the Game Face, a 6 ½-furlong stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The Javier Gonzalez-trained daughter of Competitive Edge, who won the Glitter Woman in January before finishing third in both the Davona Dale (G2) and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), was bumped out of the starting gate in the Kentucky Oaks and never recovered.

e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Sound Machine has already established herself as a Princess Rooney candidate by registering a gutsy 2 ¾-length victory in Saturday's $75,000 Musical Romance at Gulfstream.

“We'd love to win a graded-stakes with her. She's by Into Mischief; she's graded stakes-placed already; and she's won two stakes,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “To win a graded stakes with her would be huge.”

Chuck Willis Scores Fourth Win in Row in Monday's Golden Glades
Tracy Farmer's Chuck Willis ($9.40) led from gate to wire to win Monday's $70,000 Golden Glades at Gulfstream Park, notching his fourth win in a row.

The Irish-bred 5-year-old gelding, who captured an April 22 optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream off an 8 ½-month layoff, ran a mile over firm turf in 1:33.38 under Miguel Vasquez in the overnight handicap for 3-year-olds and up.

The Mark Casse-trained Chuck Willis had won one of four starts in Europe before finishing off-the-board in his North American debut in the Grey Stakes (G2) at Woodbine in October 2018. The son of Kodiac was sidelined for 19 months before winning back-to-back optional claiming allowances over Woodbine's synthetic surface and going to the sideline for another 8 ½-month layoff.

“We're very thankful to Mr. Farmer for being so patient with him. It's going to pay off for him,” said Nick Tomlinson, Casse's assistant trainer. “He's the real deal. He's had some hiccups along the way, but he can be a pretty serious horse.”

Vow Me Now and Edwin Gonzalez chased Chuck Wills throughout the race but fell a half-length short of catching him. Renaissance Frolic, the 2-1 favorite ridden by Edgard Zayas, finished third, a length back.

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