A pair of minor stakes events for Illinois-conceived and foaled two-year-olds headlined another busy weekend at the Crete oval. On Saturday night, Sawgrass Farms' Uncle Smoothie rallied from far back to take the $10,500 Crete Stakes, while Ciara Stables and John Carver’s filly No Respect cruised to an easy score in Sunday’s $10,200 Beecher Stakes.
In the Crete Stake, Uncle Smoothie snatched victory from the jaws of defeat as he looked hopelessly out of it turning for home before finding his top stride and blowing right by nine rivals to score by a half-length in a career best of 1:52.3 for driver Brian Carpenter.
There was no such drama in Sunday’s Beecher Stake as a confident Eric Carlson moved No Respect, the 1-9 betting favourite in the race, first over heading to the half and then opened up an insurmountable advantage as she cruised to her fourth win in nine career starts. The final time of 1:54.3 was a career best for the daughter of Sportsmaster--Justalittlrespect.
(With files from Balmoral)