Dynamic Sky held sway to win the Grade 3, $250,000 Red Smith H. (G3) on Saturday at Aqueduct, the first graded victory, and fourth overall black-type win, for the 4-year-old son of Sky Mesa.
Dynamic Sky, trained by Mark Casse for John Oxley, who also campaigned Sky Mesa, broke alertly and settled in mid-pack along the rail in the 1 3/8-mile turf event.
Rounding the final turn, Dynamic Sky and jockey Cornelio Velasquez began to make their move from their spot in sixth. Velasquez found running room along the rail, and when the seam opened, Dynamic Sky burst through and kicked clear in the lane. The final margin was 1 ¼-lengths over multiple Grade 1 winner Big Blue Kitten.
(The Grade 1 Canadian International) was a really tough race, obviously,” said Kathryn Sullivan, assistant to Casse. “He got a great trip today, and everything seemed to come together for him. He didn’t have the best start in the (Canadian) International, which put him behind in the race, but today everything went exactly as planned. Cornelio took him off the pace a little bit and had him sitting perfectly. When that hole opened, he just went right on through and had a ton of horse. It was perfect; you couldn’t ask for a better trip.”
Dynamic Sky is now 5-4-5 in 20 starts and has earned $938,797. Bred in Canada by Arosa Farms, Oxley purchased the dark bay as a yearling. He is out of the stakes winner Murani.