The Illinois conceived and foaled stakes continued on Friday, April 27 at Maywood Park as a field of eight sophomore pacing colts squared off in the $15,000 Taser Gun Stake
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Despite the fact that most of his rivals had already had a start or two under their belts, Sawgrass Farms' multiple stakes winning freshman Uncle Smoothie showed no signs of being rusty making his first start of the season a winning one with a one length triumph in a brisk 1:54 for driver Brian Carpenter.
Using an inside starting spot to their advantage, Carpenter sent the son of Sportsmaster-Kan Commute right to the front, showing the way through an opening split in 28.1.
Electing to let the overwhelming 1-5 favoirite Als Hammered (Robert Smolin) grab control of the proceedings just after the opening marker, Carpenter had Uncle Smoothie sitting in the garden spot as the heavy favourite rattled off middle splits of :57.3 and 1:26.
Patiently sitting on the inside of horses, Carpenter awaited his shot at the pacesetting Als Hammered as the field straightened for the money. Fit and fresh as the three-year-olds headed through the lane, Uncle Smoothie moved to the outside of the pacesetter and then proceeded to kick clear, uncorking a :27.4 final quarter to overtake the pacesetter in the closing strides for the victory. Im A Nice Sky (Kyle Wilfong) finished a distant third, four and a half lengths behind the winner.
The win was the sixth in 14 lifetime starts for the Nelson Willis-trained gelding, who now boasts $110,797 in career earnings.
Dispatched as the second choice in the wagering, Uncle Smoothie returned $12.20 and $2.40. Show wagering was not allowed on the race.
(Maywood Park)