“Smart” drive lands Beckwith feature

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Despite being just 21 years of age, Brett Beckwith has been distinguishing himself on the harness racing scene, and Friday night at The Meadowlands, he gave a drive that would be the envy of any seasoned veteran to Smart As Hill (Muscle Hill-Smarty Pants), who pulled off an upset in the featured $17,000 Play Meadowlands Series final for mid-range conditioned trotters.

Sent to the gate as a 24-1 outsider, Beckwith, currently No. 2 in all of North America with 143 dash wins, had Smart As Hill last in the field of seven past the quarter and the half, as another longshot, 50-1 chance Hoofbeats De Vie, was dictating the pace.

Lindys Irishcream then came calling first-over as Amador and Papa Doc got into the live flow, giving Beckwith an opportunity to get into contention by scooting up the inside along a now-vacant rail.

“The draw limited me. I didn’t have many options with the seven hole,” said Beckwith. “There were quite a bit of horses who drew inside that all factored really well in there.”

Beckwith opted to keep Smart As Hill at the rail as the action got more intense, and found himself in the pocket at three-quarters behind a vulnerable Hoofbeats De Vie, who had cut out fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:26.4.

“It worked out really well,” said Beckwith. “The rail kept opening up and when I ended up on Troy’s [Beyer’s] back off the last turn, I was making up a lot of ground without having to use much of my horse’s energy.”

In deep stretch, Smart As Hill found room along the cones and surged to the lead, as Papa Doc and Amador were closing in. But the wire came just in time, as Smart As Hill won it by a neck over Amador in 1:55.1 with Papa Doc third.

“I knew I had a shot at it if something opened up,” said Beckwith. “Luckily, it did.”