Smart Uncle Surprises Fisher With Smithwick Win

Jack Fisher is in the Hall of Fame for a reason given his record of success as a steeplechase trainer in a career that dates back to 1987. Still, even he was a bit surprised by the winning effort put forth by Mrs. S. K. Johnston Jr.'s Smart Uncle in the $150,000 A. P. Smithwick Memorial Handicap (NSA-1) Aug. 5 at Saratoga Race Course. The 6-year-old Uncle Mo gelding, bred in Kentucky by George Strawbridge Jr., ran a career-defining race in the 2 3/8-mile contest. "Smart Uncle, I think, is a better horse than I thought he was," Fisher said in the winner's circle. The bettors, however, were not as surprised by the effort, sending Smart Uncle off as the 4-1 third choice. Jockey Jamie Bargary rated midpack in the main body of the field as Take Your Seats (IRE) opened a large lead in the early stages, leading by 18 lengths after a mile. The pacesetter had run out of gas by the time they entered the backstretch for the final time on their 2 1/2-lap journey of Saratoga's inner turf course, and Fisher-trained Roja Redemption was the first to pick up the pieces. Bargary moved up into second by the final jump and entered the final turn with aim on the leader. Roja Redemption held tough, but Smart Uncle was able to run him down in the final sixteenth and hold off a late rally by Fil Dor (FR) to win by a three-quarters of a length in 4:42.75. After beginning his career with four starts on the flat, Smart Uncle joined Fisher's barn prior to the 2024 season. Fisher, like he does with several of his horses, utilized the gelding's conditions on both the flat and over the hurdles. Four months after winning his first stakes over hurdles at Foxfield in April 2025, he broke his flat maiden at Delaware Park in a 1 1/16-mile turf race, which he then parlayed into a third-place finish against allowance foes at Kentucky Downs. Returning to hurdles following that Aug. 31 race in Franklin, Ky., he failed to hit the board in his next five races. Fisher then prepped the gelding for Wednesday's grade 1 victory by taking advantage of his Virginia certification with a third-place finish in a Colonial Downs allowance going a flat mile. Earning his first top-level victory over jumps, Smart Uncle improved his record at that discipline to 4-1-1 from 13 starts. Overall with the flat races included, he is 5-4-4 from 22 starts for earnings of $325,300. Fisher said Smart Uncle will remain over hurdles for his next start, with both he and Roja Redemption targeting the $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard Memorial (NSA-1) Sept. 2 at Saratoga. Race favorite and last-out Leo O'Brien Handicap (NSA-1) winner McTigue (IRE) fell over the final jump, unseating Graham Watters. He continued on and was collared by outriders just before the finish. Per the New York Racing Association vet department, he sustained minor lacerations and was provided a precautionary ride back to the barn in the equine ambulance. Watters visited with on-site EMTs and walked back to the jocks' room on his own power.