by Ron Parker

Mercedes Stables’ Seattle Smooth posted her first graded stakes victory on Saturday at the expense of 2-to-5 favorite Proud Spell as she drove to the lead in midstretch and surged away late for a 2 ½-length victory in the $750,000 Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes (G2) at Philadelphia Park.

Deftly handled by jockey Jose Lezcano, who was aboard Seattle Smooth for the first time, the three-year-old Quiet American filly settled in fourth position just behind Proud Spell in the six-horse field. Color Me Up, a 60-to-1 longshot, set the pace through dawdling fractions of :24.31 and :48.59 through a half-mile in the 1 1/16-mile race for three-year-old fillies.

With Color Me Up continuing to show the way through six furlongs in 1:11.89, Lezcano was content to keep Seattle Smooth on the inside while inching up to pass Proud Spell.

Seattle Smooth got the jump on Proud Spell entering the stretch. Lezcano eased the bay filly to the outside of game Color Me Up before Seattle Smooth gained the lead and pulled away. Seattle Smooth covered the distance in 1:42.58 on a track rated as fast.

Proud Spell nipped Color Me Up by a neck in the final strides.

The Cotillion was Seattle Smooth’s second stakes victory in as many starts for new trainer Anthony Dutrow, who first saddled her for a 7 ¼-length victory in the Go for Wand Stakes on August 30 at Delaware Park.

Seattle Smooth previously was conditioned by Julio Canani on the West Coast, where she won the Bay Meadows Oaks and finished second in the California Oaks. She made her first trip east for the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) on May 16 at Pimlico Race Course and finished third to Sweet Vendetta. She subsequently finished ninth in the San Clemente Handicap (G2) on July 26 at Del Mar before joining Dutrow’s barn.

Proud Spell entered off a win over highly regarded Grade 1 winner Music Note in the Alabama Stakes (G1) on August 16 at Saratoga Race Course. Trainer Larry Jones said prior to the Cotillion that he was considering Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Proud Spell for the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) on October 24 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

Seattle Smooth is out of the unraced Seattle Song mare Our Seattle Star. She increased her earnings to $611,160 with four wins from ten starts.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer