It was a first graded stakes victory for WAR FRONT’s Smokin’ T when he won the River City S. (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Third in a pair of Grade 3s in his last two starts, the 4-year-old colt raced just over three lengths behind in the 1 1/8 miles on the turf while taking up his spot as the middle marker of the field. Already racing a few paths off the rail, he moved even wider turning into the stretch as he worked on chasing down the leaders.
Racing into the final furlong, Smokin’ T had the lead soon after and pulled away to win by 1 ¾ lengths for his fifth career victory.
Trained by Shug McGaughey, the victory took the Dattt Stable homebred’s earnings to $700,460 with 12 top three finishes in 18 starts. That record also includes a victory in the Listed Lure Stakes at Saratoga this year as well.
Smokin’ T is one of four winners from five to race out of the multiple graded stakes winner Wine Princess. That mare is out of Horse of the Year Azeri, who also produced Grade 2 placed Leukerbad, Shirvanshah, and Arienza.
This is the third graded stakes winner of the month for WAR FRONT, who had a two graded stakes winner day last weekend.