Smuggler’s Run Captures Echo Eddie

The Echo Eddie, part of the lucrative Golden State Series, which is sponsored by the CTBA, is for eligible California-bred or sired runners.

Flavien Prat rode Smuggler’s Run in three out of his four starts, but Bravo took over for the first time and made it look easy, as he stalked dueling leaders Moose Mitchell and Mr. T’s Thirsty to the far turn, drawing to within 1 ½ lengths of “Moose” leaving the three furlong pole en route to his first stakes win.

“It’s pretty nice when they run like that,” said Bravo.  “I don’t even have a piece of dirt on me, do I?  You know when you have horse underneath you.  He was just going really comfortably.  I just tried to stay out of this horse’s way, Baltas really had him ready today.

“The only concern I really had was that this horse had run mostly on the grass and he had one dirt race that was a win, but he really stepped up to the plate today.  It was a nice effort…”

Most recently second as the 4-5 favorite in a first condition allowance at six furlongs on turf March 18, Smuggler’s Run was off as the even money favorite in a field of five statebred sophomores and paid $4.00, $2.60 and $2.10.

“This is our (fourth) opportunity with this horse and I have (owner) Kevin Nish to thank,” said Baltas.  “He made a trainer change and Alex Solis, Jr. brought the horse to us.  This horse is in great shape.  There is nothing he can’t do.  He could run on grass, he could go longer and he could go two turns.  This horse is very rate-able.  He finishes all his works good.  And he’s a Cal-bred.”

In his first stakes victory, Smuggler’s Run, who is out of KMN’s Kitten’s Joy mare Maddie’s Odyssey, is now 5-3-1-0 and with the winner’s share of $90,000, increased his earnings to $190,040.

Ridden by Diego Herrera and trained by George Papaprodromou, Moose Mitchell pressed the early pace and kept to her task late, finishing 2 ½ lengths in front of What in Blazes.

Off at 9-2, Moose Mitchell paid $3.80 and $2.80.

What in Blazes, ridden by John Velazquez, was off at 6-1 and paid $2.80 while finishing three quarters of a length in front of a tiring Mr. T’s Thirsty.

Fractions on the race were 22.27, 44.91 and 1:09.74.