Race Recaps Count Again DEFEATS Smooth Like Strait | 2022 Shoemaker Mile Replay & Reaction May 30, 2022 Benoit Photo Race Recaps Count Again DEFEATS Smooth Like Strait | 2022 Shoemaker Mile Replay & Reaction May 30, 2022 By: Curtis "Magic" Kalleward twitteremail Share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin email this article The Racing Dudes react to Count Again winning the 2022 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park and earning a fees-waived berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). JOIN the replay watch-along to get the Racing Dudes’ INSTANT reactions, then give YOUR thoughts in the Comments section! SMASH the *Thumbs Up* ~ HIT *Subscribe* ~ RING the *Notification* bell Join the Inner Circle Sign up for exclusive 10% discount on orders, plus be the first to access our daily free and premium horse racing picks, articles, podcasts, and more! Sign Up The track press release: Last early, trainer Phil D’Amato’s Count Again pounced like a big cat when it counted to take Monday’s Grade I, $500,000 Shoemaker Mile going away by 2 ¼ lengths, thus providing eastern kingpin Irad Ortiz, Jr. with his second consecutive Grade I stakes win on the Memorial Day card at Santa Anita. Owned by Agave Racing and Sam-Son Farm, Count Again got a mile on turf in a sizzling 1:32.40. The Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile is a Breeder’s Cup “Win & You’re In” Challenge Race Qualifier, with the winner earning a fees-paid berth into the Grade I, $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Nov. 5. A troubled sixth, beaten 1 ¾ lengths in the Grade I Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland April 15, Count Again got a perfect trip today, slicing through the competition around the far turn and reeling in favored Smooth Like Strait a furlong out. “He was in great position today and turning for home, he had the leader measured,” said D’Amato, who posted his fourth Shoe Mile win today. “He was sitting on a big race today. This puts him in a position to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile in November.” A winner of the Grade I Kilroe Mile two starts back on March 5, Count Again was off as the 5-2 second choice and paid $7.00, $2.40 and $2.10. A 7-year-old Ontario, Canadian-bred gelding by Awesome Again out of the Red Ransom mare Count to Thee, Count Again notched his fifth graded stakes victory and is now 17-7-1-4 overall. With the winner’s share of $300,000, he became racing’s newest millionaire with total earnings of $1,069,915. “I just followed instructions,” said Ortiz, a three-time Eclipse Award winner who won the previous race, the Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup, with longshot There Goes Harvard. “Phil told me to let him do his thing and don’t rush him. He had a big turn of foot. The horse was ready to run today, was ready to win. “They went a little fast but I wasn’t too far (back). Honestly, I was happy where I was with my horse. Most of the time, he comes from off the pace. I just wanted to be in contact with the field and when he put me right there in the first turn…, I said ‘Why not,’ let him be there and he responded really well. When I went through horses at the quarter pole, Phil told me to make sure to keep him outside down the stretch. In the clear and that’s what I did. When we were in the clear, I asked him and (he) took off.” Smooth Like Strait, who tracked pacesetter and eventual last place finisher Dance Some Mo early, opened up turning for home but was no match for the winner today under Flavien Prat. A close third in the Maker’s Mark Mile, Smooth Like Strait was off as the 2-5 favorite and paid $2.10 and $2.10 while finishing 3 ½ lengths in front of D’Amato’s Masteroffoxhounds. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Masteroffoxhounds ran from off the pace to finish one length in front of Heywoods Beach. Off at 6-1, Masteroffoxhounds paid $2.20 to show. 2023 Breeders’ Cup
Breeders’ Cup 2024 Recap: What We Learned From World Championships | Blinkers Off 693 The Racing Dudes recap the 41st annual Breeders’ Cup World… Read More
Del Mar Preview & FREE Pick 5 Bets | The Magic Mike Show 572 The Magic Mike Show guys preview Del Mar Thoroughbred Club… Read More
College Football Week 11 and NFL Week 10 Picks | Dudes Who Bet Sports 214 Aaron & Papa Dude give their College Football picks for… Read More
Official Breeders’ Cup 2024 Picks | Blinkers Off 692 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for the 41st… Read More
Jon White Breeders’ Cup 2024 Interview and Picks | Blinkers Off 691 The Racing Dudes interview Jon White, former Santa Anita, Del… Read More
Kentucky Derby 2025 Latest News & Top 5 | The New Season Begins The inaugural top 5 contenders list for the 2024 Kentucky… Read More
Racing Dudes Premium Picks CASH Trifecta at Aqueduct for $124.50 on $12 Ticket 11/10/24 The Long Island Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on Sunday, November… Read More
Rockets CASH Big Pick 3 at Del Mar for $119.50 on $12 Ticket 11/10/24 Sunday was another good afternoon at Del Mar for the Rocket… Read More
Rockets CASH Pick 5 at Aqueduct for $415.00 on $108 Ticket 11/10/24 Sunday was another good afternoon at Aqueduct for the Rocket Subscribers,… Read More
Best Value Race at Penn National Produces over $550.00 in Profits for the Racing Dudes Premium Picks The “Best Value” race of the day for Penn National… Read More