Seattle Smooth, a grade I winner for Ernie Moody’s Mercedes Stables, has been retired from racing because of ankle problems. The 5-year-old Quiet American mare made only 14 career starts and won seven of them. She earned a career total of $1,001,160.
Seattle Smooth achieved her greatest success while trained by East Coast conditioner Anthony Dutrow, who took over from California trainer Julio Canani in the summer of 2008. Under Dutrow’s care, Seattle Smooth won five stakes and ran second in another from six starts. Her biggest win came in the 2009 Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) over Seventh Street at Belmont Park.
For Dutrow, Seattle Smooth also captured the 2009 Shuvee Handicap (gr. II) and the Bed o’ Roses Handicap (gr. II), both at Belmont, and the 2008 Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes (gr. II) and Go for Wand Stakes.
Seattle Smooth was off for 11 months after the Ogden Phipps Handicap. She returned to racing in the May 15 Shuvee, finishing second, after which it was decided to retire her. Moody was hoping to run her in this year’s Breeders’ Cup.
Dr. Oscar Benavides and Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley are the breeders of Kentucky-bred Seattle Smooth, who was produced from the stakes-winning Seattle Song mare Our Seattle Star.
Moody bought Seattle Smooth for $340,000 through Dennis Yokum, agent, from Benavides’ Montesacro Farm, agent, at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale.
Moody does not plan to have Seattle Smooth bred this year.