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Smart Prospector Cruises Home in Captain Hook Stakes at Turf Paradise
Smart Prospector, under jockey David Lopez, winning the $9,750 Captain Hook Stakes (not black-type) at Turf Paradise Sunday.

© Coady Photography
Smart Prospector Cruises Home in Captain Hook Stakes at Turf Paradise

PHOENIX, AZ—NOVEMBER 17, 2019—There were no surprises in the $9,750 Captain Hook Stakes (not black-type) at Turf Paradise as Smart Prospector, one of four Thoroughbreds in the field, broke sharply and maintained a lead to win going away by seven lengths.

Smart Prospector ($2.20) and jockey David Lopez finished the 870-yard stake in 43.516 and earned a speed index of 115 for trainer Robertino Diodoro and owner Empire Racing Stables, LLC.

It was an easy victory for the Louisiana-bred gelding, who is now undefeated in two starts at Turf Paradise. The 5-year-old son of Calibrachoa formerly raced at Delta and Evangeline before spending the summer at Canterbury, where he won three of his four starts.

Smart Prospector won his first attempt at 870 yards in his previous race, also at Turf, winning by nearly seven lengths in a stake in October. He was bred by Nathan Granger out of the Suave Prospect mare Prospect of Love.

Second place was decided by a nose, as another Thoroughbred, Capital Expense, edged out Quarter Horse L Bar D Classic Trip; a gap of four lengths separated these two from the rest of the field.

Capital Expense was ridden by Nathan Haar for owner Michael Loynes and trainer Robert Baze. The 6-year-old gelding was bred in British Columbia by L D’Rado Thoroughbreds, by Scots Pine and out of Miss Current Sea, by Petersburg.

Capital Expense made his Turf Paradise debut earlier this month; Sunday’s stake was his first try at 870 yards.

Aaron Belloc rode L Bar D Classic Trip for owner and trainer Amy Nelson. The 4-year-old gelding was bred in Oregon by F. Darrell and Linda M. Sanders, by Mr. Nightlinger and out of Be First Rose, by Ought to Be First.

L Bar D Classic Trip has made two prior starts at 870 yards, including a win that was part of a three-race win streak this summer in Arizona and Wyoming.

Completing the field were Kaabraaj, Big Hoss Rollin, Six Ninety One and Eye Sea Cash.