A.P. Smitwick recap
©Tod Marks
Smart Uncle earns Grade 1 glory in first graded stakes score
After making a big splash with three straight wins — capped by a score in the Van Clief Memorial restricted stakes at Foxfield — early in his National Steeplechase Association career, Gill Johnston’s Smart Uncle made a couple of starts on the flat before returning over jumps, but failed to hit the board in some admittedly tough competition.
But the talented son of Uncle Mo returned to the turf in an allowance race at Colonial Downs early in July, where he ran big race, finishing a fast-closing third after being blocked.
That prep race orchestrated by trainer Jack Fisher set him up perfectly for Wednesday’s Grade 1 $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial handicap hurdle at Saratoga, where the six-year-old Kentucky-bred ran even bigger under jockey Jamie Bargary, collaring Riverdee Stable’s Roja Redemption, who had a big lead turning for home in 2 3/8-mile handicap, and holding off another hard-charging finisher in Del Rio Racing’s Fil Dor.
The victory put Smart Uncle over the $300,000 mark in career earnings and made his the fifth different jumper to win each of the five G1s contested in 2026.
A field of eight was entered for the Smithwick, and the early going went pretty much according to form, with Leipers Fork Steeplechase’s Take Your Seats (Evan Dwan) spurting off to a huge lead of as much as 20 or so lengths. As Take Your Seats was speeding along, the other seven horses in the field were reasonably bunched together, with about five lengths separating them from front to back.
Rounding the clubhouse turn the final time, Take Your Seats began to run run out of steam as Roja Redemption motored to the lead, extending his advantage heading up the backside, with Smart Uncle and St. James the Great (Stephen Mulqueen) in closest pursuit.
Turning for home, Roja Redemption opened up by five as the field began to spread out. The leader maintained his advantage into deep stretch, and looked to be home free. But Smart Uncle was relentless, gaining with each stride, finally drawing clear in the final yards to prevail by a length. Meanwhile, Del Rio Racing’s Fil Dor (Conor Tierney), was mounting a rally of his own, with the flashy gray 2025 Colonial Cup winner, cutting to the inside and passing Roja Redemption for the place spot.
The only downside to the race was when Irv Naylor’s race favorite McTigue (Graham Watters) fell at the final fence. A winner of the recent G1 Leo O’Brien at the Spa, McTigue was collared by an outride. NYRA vets said McTigue sustained minor lacerations and was provided a precautionary ride back to the barn in the equine ambulance. Watters visited onsite first aid and walked out under his own power, according to NYRA.