Quick learner: Real Smart wins Belmont feature in US debut

NEW YORK (AP) Real Smart won her U.S. debut, beating Ice Festival by 2 3/4 lengths Friday in the $80,000 allowance feature for fillies and mares on the turf at Belmont Park.

The gray 4-year-old was 1-2-2 in six starts in England before joining Graham Motion's barn after last season.

John Velazquez was aboard for the 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.74.

Real Smart paid $12.20, $5.70 and $2.90. Ice Festival returned $4.50 and $2.80, and Sympathy, the 3/5 favorite, paid $2.10 to show.

The feature was not impacted by the betting-system error that incorrectly scratched four horses.

The four runners - Daves Gone Bananas (1st race), Son of Oahu (4th), Dighton (5th) and More Than Kisses (6th) - ran for purse money only. They were treated as scratches for wagering purposes. Advance bets on those horses were refunded.

Son of Oahu won his race, but had no impact on the payoffs. Second-place finisher Jeremy's Song was posted as the ''winner'', paying $19.40.