Seattle Smooth Sent to Sidelines

Grade I winner Seattle Smooth, who has won her last five starts (four of them graded stakes), has some physical issues that have prompted her connections to give her a 60-day break from training, Daily Racing Form reported July 28.

Owned by Ernie Moody’s Mercedes Stable and trained by Tony Dutrow, the 4-year-old Quiet American filly won the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) June 13 at Belmont Park, making her a perfect three-for-three this year.

"Seattle Smooth is not moving as well and acting as well as she was going into the Phipps, and is deserving of a break," Dutrow told the paper. "The tax of those three races have her not the same horse. She's not sour, she's not refusing; I just know she's not the same."

Dutrow said he hopes to return Seattle Smooth to the races next year.