O So Smart overcomes Parade Ring incident, to win impressively
Following an incident where she almost fell in the Parade Ring, the Steven Todd-conditioned O So Smart didn’t appear distressed and was still powerful enough to win at the races on Monday, April 1.
O So Smart came from behind runners to win a native-bred three-year-old (non-winners of two) and an imported three-year-old and upward (maidens) going 5 ½ furlongs.
O So Smart won by 3 ½ lengths in a time of 1:09.1 (23.3 x 47.1).
Todd said he was happy with the triumph but was concerned about the potential for injury after O So Smart fell to the ground.
“It was a good win nonetheless. I was a bit worried, yes, but the good thing was that she went down on the soft grass. I wasn’t worried that much, as she didn’t fall; she just went down. But you will always worry whenever something is wrong with your horse,” Todd told the
Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide.
“She is a horse that we did some work on. We knew she wanted some equipment changes, and we had put them on her in the past, but she wasn’t comfortable with them. We had to stick to the task and keep her with them until she got comfortable, and we got through today,” he added.
O So Smart, running with the visor and tongue-tie on, settled in third position behind
Cryptogirl (Omar Walker) and Comehometome (Josue Osorio).
She maintained her position during the half-mile turn, and turned for home on the heels of the leaders, looking dangerous.
O So Smart found racing room on the inside rails, responded well to the handling of jockey of Paul Francis, by going about her business to the winning post.
Cryptogirl was second, and Playfair (Reyan Lewis) third.