Rejuvenated Smash back to start in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes
Bob Baffert trained 3-year-old colt, Smash, had a bit of respite when he raced twice in one month after breaking his maiden. In the month of May 2011, the 3-year-old colt Smash ran in an allowance claimer at Hollywood Park on 6 May, 2011, as he came out
as the runner up in the 6 furlong event to winner Coil.
The second race in May was another allowance claimer at about six and a half furlongs at Hollywood Park’s synthetic surface which Smash went on to win under Martin Garcia on 29 May, 2011, as he covered the 6 ½ furlongs in 1 minute and 15.64 seconds.
With two months off racing, Smash returned again, this time with the desire to earn a graded stakes win status in the Grade 2 Carry Back Stakes at Calder race course on 9 July, 2011, again under a new jockey M Smith to go six furlongs on dirt.
The Kentucky bred son of Smart Strike, out of mare Dixie Holiday by Dixieland Band, finished a length behind winner Indiano who topped the six furlong distance in 1 minute and 10.60 seconds.
After his second place finish, Smash took 3 months off again and got called back for an allowance race run over a distance of six and a half furlongs over at Hollywood Park’s synthetic surface on 27 November, 2011, as Smash won the race defeating the tenacious
Centralinteligence.
Smash is now pointed toward the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, with Centralinteligence in the lineup as well after he got defeated by Smash in their previous start.
Smash is owned by the same owner, Kaleem Shah, who lost another sprinter of his named Irrefutable after the Underwood Stakes on 26 November, 2011.
“Mike,” Baffert said, referring to jockey Mike Smith, “thought at first he might be having heat stroke. We got the saddle off him and he was a little wobbly. He started to walk off, and he just dropped.”
Bob Baffert was all praise about Smash, he called Smash short but said he can really let go and fly once he is in the groove. Surely the 3-year-old colt after a brief layoff will be a force to be reckoned with.
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