Awfully Smart Brilliant Winner of Leonard Richards

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Jayeff B Stables' Awfully Smart took command in upper stretch and rolled to a 5 1/2-length win in the $300,300 Leonard Richards (gr. IIIT) at Delaware Park Sunday.

Ridden by Ramon Dominguez, the son of Anees covered the 1 1/16-mile distance for 3-year-olds in 1:43.23 over a fast main track. Coming off a sixth-place finish in the Spend A Buck at Monmouth Park May 29, Awfully Smart was making his graded stakes debut.

After a slow start, Awfully Smart engaged for the lead on the far turn on the outside of two rivals.

"I really did not want to be three wide, like I was, but the horse proved to be good enough to do so," said Dominguez. "He is a pretty nice horse."

The Kentucky-bred trained by Alan Goldberg returned $10.60, $5 and $2.60 as third choice in the field of six. Ah Day, with Jonathan Joyce aboard, ran second, returning $4.20 and $2.60. It was another 3 ¾ lengths further back to the even money favorite Little Cliff, with Jeremy Rose, paying $2.10.

"He really ran a game race today," said Rose. "I just got outrun today."

Throng, ridden by Jose Santos, set fractions of :23 2/5, :46 4/5 and 1:11 2/5.

Awfully Smart raised his career record to three wins from seven starts with earnings of $243,280.

Irish Gentleman, Throng, and How's Your Halo completed the order.

(Chart, Equibase)

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