Joshua Radosevich Memorial
Larry Smith’s Big Truck (by Birdrun out of Small Secret by Minister’s Wildcat) pulled away in the final 1/16th of a mile after a stretch dual with First Song to earn his first stakes victory in the Joshua Radosevich Memorial Stakes for 2-year-old accredited Ohio-breds. In only his 4th start, Big Truck broke through to gain the stakes win in his first attempt, against a field of competition where many had placed in stakes before.
Big Truck broke within 2 and ½ lengths of the front-running First Song (trained by Tim Hamm and racing under his Blazing Meadows Farm colors), but rider Sonny Leon chose to back off the pace and drop over to the rail rather than chasing wide on the turn. He then drew up alongside First Song in the final furlong, and the two went on to race neck and neck. They appeared to exchange bumps in the lane, not only causing the stewards to take a look at the replay, but also First Song’s rider (Erik Barbaran) to lodge a claim of foul. The stewards did not find enough evidence to change the order of finish, and Big Truck headed to the winner’s circle, with First Song second and Weekend Buzz finishing the trifecta.
Trained by Larry Smith and racing under his Smith’s Red Gate Farm LLC, Big Truck closed out his 2-year-old campaign with a record of 2 wins and 2 seconds from 4 starts with earnings of $73,120. Smith splits his time in the winters between his string in the north at Mahoning Valley and one just south of the Ohio border at Turfway Park. Larry was able to be present to saddle Big Truck for the victory and said after the race; “he jumped up and ran very well…he may as well be the real deal!” and he cannot wait for his 3yo campaign.
Big Truck was bred by Hal Snowden Jr., who was also the breeder of 2 other starters in the Joshua Radosevich Memorial, Run Bubba Run (5th) and You’re My Boy Blue (8th). Snowden, a regular breeder of between 3 to 6 Ohio foals each spring, enjoyed his very first Ohio stakes win with Big Truck. It was even more special given he bred and raced Big Truck’s dam (Small Secret) and was part of her sire’s stud career (Ministers Wild Cat) as well.
The Joshua Radosevich Memorial closed out the Ohio stakes schedule for 2020.
