Smokey Glacken Sizzles in First Lady Win

Susan and John Moore's Smokey Glacken collared favorite Trickle of Gold near the quarter pole and drew away in the stretch to capture Saturday's $100,000 First Lady Handicap (gr. III) for fillies and mares by 4 1/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park.

With Javier Castellano regaining the mount for New York-based trainer James Jerkens, Smokey Glacken eschewed her usual front-running style to stalk the narrow 5-2 choice Trickle of Gold and Lunachick closely through quick fractions of :21 4/5 and :44 1/5 in the six-furlong event, coming home in 1:08 4/5 on a fast track.

"All the speed in the race was a concern," Jerkens said. "She can come from off it but not far off it. The way the race happened was perfect. She broke sharp and was able to sit. I was really confident on the far turn because it looked like Javier hadn't really cut her loose."

The Kentucky-bred 5-year-old Forestry mare carried co-high weight of 117 pounds to victory.

"I had a beautiful trip," Castellano said. "She broke sharp and put me in a good spot. After that, she did everything I asked of her."

Kuanyan, a 37-1 pick with Eddie Castro aboard, ran second in a three-horse photo for the place, a neck in front of 126-1 shot So Much More and Kristi Chapman. Ender's Sister finished fourth with Trickle of Gold in fifth.

The graded stakes winning Lilah, a 9-year-old mare making what was probably the 40th and final start of her career, ran sixth, while Maddalena, also sent off at odds of 5-2 for trainer Todd Pletcher, finished seventh after being bumped at the start. Lunachick trailed.

Smokey Glacken, freshened since a third-place finish in the First Flight Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park Oct. 30 with John Velazquez riding, earned $60,000 for her eighth win in 16 starts. She increased her lifetime bankroll to $497,660. Her last victory came in Belmont's Floral Park Handicap (gr. III) Sept. 17. Racing primarily in New York, she made her first start at Gulfstream since a third-place finish, 13 lengths behind the Madcap Escapade in the February 2004 Old Hat.

Jayeff B Stables bred the winner, who is out of the Magesterial mare Majesty's Crown, in Kentucky.

The third choice paid $9.40, $5.40, and $4.20, combining with Kuanyan ($22.60, $9.40) for a $185.60 exacta. So Much More ($11.20) rounded out a $1 trifecta worth $1,676.10, while the $1 superfecta with Ender's Sister returned $9,925.60.

(Chart, Equibase)