Smooth Like Strait improving

With Speech in the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and a trio of runners in stakes on Saturday, trainer Michael McCarthy is hoping for a blockbuster week at Churchill Downs.

Saturday he has Rushie in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile and Ce Ce in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff. And while every one of his entrants should be prominent in the betting, none will be as short as Smooth Like Strait, who figures to go favored against seven rivals in the Grade 2, $500,000 American Turf for 3-year-old grass runners.

The American Turf, at 1 1/16 miles, brings Smooth Like Strait back to the scene of the War Chant, a one-mile race he won over this course in May while recording a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 96. He subsequently won the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar under Umberto Rispoli going 1 1/16 miles, the same distance as the American Turf.

“He’s trained well, had a couple of decent works since the last race,” McCarthy said Wednesday. “He likes this track. Hoping the stars align again.”

As in the War Chant, McCarthy is employing John Velazquez, whom McCarthy worked with regularly during his decade-long tenure as an assistant to Todd Pletcher. McCarthy believes Smooth Like Strait is a better horse now than he was the last time Velazquez rode him.

“He’s maturing,” McCarthy said. “It seems like he’s getting better with racing.”

Smooth Like Strait enters the American Turf having won four of his last six starts, including his last pair. He likes to race prominent early, but doesn’t need the lead, and finishes off his races well.

His main rivals figure to be the Mike Maker-trained pair of Fancy Liquor and Field Pass.

Fancy Liquor, like Smooth Like Strait, prefers to be close early. He fought back bravely after being headed at midstretch to win the listed Caesars at Indiana Grand last time out going a mile on yielding ground.

“Very gifted horse,” Maker said. “Waiting for the light bulb to go on. He likes to stay with his company. He’s maturing with more races under his belt.”

Field Pass defeated his stablemate twice earlier this year, most recently in the Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland going 1 1/16 miles on turf July 12. He subsequently was seventh in the Saratoga Derby going 1 3/16 miles last time out. Maker believes the cutback in distance will help.

“He flattened out. Maybe he doesn’t want to run that far. You don’t hear me say that often,” Maker said, chuckling, alluding to his penchant for longdistance grass runners.

Field Pass was a fast-finishing third in the War Chant, beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Smooth Like Strait. He may get a more favorable pace scenario this time.

American Butterfly, a sprinter stretching out in his turf debut, adds pace and has a sneaky-good grass pedigree. Sunsation also should be forwardly placed.

King Theo, Sugoi, and Taishan complete the field.

The American Turf is race 8 on the 14-race card and is the first of seven straight graded stakes that make up the back half of the card.