String King gave Charles Smith his first win as a trainer in the Louisiana Champions Day Turf at Fair Grounds
Charles Craig Smith owned/trained and bred, String King, gave his owner/breeder his first win as a trainer in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf at Fair Grounds on 10 December, 2011, over at 1 1/16 miles.
He covered the distance in 1 minute and 45.40 seconds, and in the process defeated Kissimmee Kyle and Wildrally, who finished second and third, respectively.
The Louisiana bred son of Crowned King, out of mare String Dancer by Fly a Kite, String King was coming in the LA Champions Day Turf off a 2 months layoff and under jockey James Graham settled the gelding in second position a few lengths off the leader,
Kissimmee Kyle.
Following the moderate pace of the leader, String King stalked him till the half mile marker, which was covered by Kissimmee Kyle in 49.71 seconds.
The one length lead over String King was maintained by the leader, which was extended to one and a half lengths at the stretch call. Wildrally was in the pursuit as well, and both String King and Wildrallhy teamed up to hunt down the leader at the same time.
The tandem looked strong and the run was full of purpose.
String King settled himself in between the horses and rallied powerfully down the stretch, and with a few yards to go he found another wing to leave behind Wildrally and Kissimmee Kyle to hit the wire with an inch or two over Kissimmee Kyle, who kept Wildrally
at bay to finish second.
“He was a little slow coming around, but when he came around, he came around,” said Smith. “He’s always been a fighter. He runs hard.”
On firm turf, String King rallied down the stretch to win the 1 1/16 mile event as he covered the distance in 1 minute and 45.40 seconds.
This was the third time String King ran on third, as he won his turf debut in summer at Louisiana Downs by four lengths. He then participated in the $100,000 Unbridled, an open turf stakes on 10 September, 2011, over at 1 1/16 miles where he finished a close
fourth to winner Golden Yank.
Tags: