smooth like strait makes Keeneland debut in maker's mark mile

Cannon Thoroughbreds’ Smooth Like Strait closed a lucrative 2021 campaign with a narrow loss to Space Blues (IRE) in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF at Del Mar in early November. 

This year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held at Keeneland Nov. 4-5. For Smooth Like Strait, the road to a possible return to the Mile begins Friday afternoon in the 34^th running of the $600,000 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1). 

“The Maker’s Mark fit for us schedule-wise,” trainer Michael McCarthy said of the starting point for 2022 for Smooth Like Strait, who on Friday morning will van from Churchill Downs to Keeneland for his first local start. 

Smooth Like Strait made one trip out of California last year to Kentucky for the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1) in which he finished third beaten a neck behind dead-heat winners Colonel Liam and Domestic Spending (GB). 

“His participation in this year’s Turf Classic (on May 7) depends on his race Friday,” McCarthy said. 

A rainy April that included strong overnight storms Wednesday night into Thursday morning figures to leave the Keeneland turf course less than firm for Friday’s race. 

“Weather is a concern,” McCarthy said of Smooth Like Strait, who finished fourth in the Eddie Logan (L) in 2019 at Santa Anita in his lone start on a less than firm course. “I can’t say I am crazy about participating on a soft turf course.”