Hamilton Smith Saddles Four Winners at Laurel
Hamilton Smith Saddles Four Winners at Laurel
LAUREL, MD – Trainer Hamilton Smith, a perennial leading trainer in Maryland, saddled four winners on Sunday’s 10-race program at Laurel Park.
Smith, who began his training career in 1976 and has won more than 1,900 races, started the day saddling the winner of the early double, True Cat ($4.40) and Queen of Schmooze ($4.20). He then saddled the winner of the fourth in Scrap Copper ($9), a game 2-year-old son of Great Notion making his debut, and the fifth in Stillsexyatsixty ($4).
“Big day. I had a good day. No problem there,” said Smith, who came into the day with one win during the meet. “They all figured in the races, they really did. We didn’t change anything as far as training procedures, we just kept grinding. The kids rode them good today and we had good trips.”
Hall of Fame conditioner King Leatherbury has won five races in one day four times in Maryland, and six races in a day once. Trainer Claudio Gonzalez won four races in one afternoon in March at Laurel. Scott Lake saddled four winners at Laurel in January of 2009.
Smith’s victory in the fifth race $16,000 maiden claimer with Stillsexyatsixty came as part of the FEGENTRI amateur riding series. Jerry Ortega, who works for John Servis and was the exercise rider of Cathryn Sophia, was aboard the 3-year-old filly.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity and for the amateur association to give us a chance to ride and be like jocks,” Ortega said.
