This year, Moyglare Stud’s Simple Exchange followed on the heels of Pine Dance in 2000 and Evolving Tactics last year.
Jockey Pat Smullen kept Simple Exchange within two lengths of the lead from the time they left the gate, hugging the rail all the while. They fanned out for running room straightening into the lane and out-dueled Cool Conductor to the wire, prevailing by a head to land the winner’s share of $150,000.
“I wanted to keep my horse into the race down the backside,” Smullen said. “I got a split just as we entered into the straight. It was brilliant. We got a lovely run around and we quickened all the way down the stretch.”
Said Weld: “We think this is a better colt [than Evolving Tactics]. He has more talent, more speed and more improvement in him. I think the best is yet to come.”
The victory was the third in six career starts for Simple Exchange, a 3-year-old son of Danehill out of Summer Trysting, an Alleged mare. He broke his maiden at first asking last August at Cork, then returned there in September to win the El Gran Senor Stakes, a listed race. He got the mile and three-sixteenths in Chicago in a stakes record 1:54.93 over firm turf. He paid $6.40 to win as the second choice in the eight-horse field.
Weld indicated that Simple Exchange will return to Arlington for the Secretariat Stakes on Aug. 14 if all goes well.
THREEPEAT FOR ‘SLAM’
Fire Slam ran his winning streak to three with his victory in the $97,500 Don Bernhardt Stakes at Ellis Park in Kentucky. Trained by County Meath native David Carroll, Fire Slam came four wide into the stretch and held off Unbridled America by a head under hand urging from a very confident Pat Day.
The winner, a son of Grand Slam out of Miss Firefly, a Salt Lake mare, now boasts six wins from nine starts. He completed the six and a half furlong Bernhardt in 1:16.91 over a fast surface. He paid $3.80 as the second choice in the four-horse field.