Betty Grable a rubber match between Grand Slam Smile, Sneaker
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DEL MAR, Calif. – Although she has won twice as often and earned twice as much, Grand Slam Smile has a score to settle with her nemesis Sneaker on Sunday at Del Mar.
Seven fillies and mares bred in California are entered the $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes, which is basically a rubber match between two who composed the exacta in recent stakes on turf. Sneaker upset Grand Slam Smile last out in a sprint; Grand Slam Smile beat Sneaker two back in a route.
The difference Sunday is footing. The Betty Grable is seven furlongs on dirt, which is fine for Grand Slam Smile. She has won on dirt, turf, and synthetic. Sneaker, however, is uncertain. She has raced exclusively on turf and Sunday will be her first start on dirt.
Grand Slam Smile is the 7-5 program favorite, while Sneaker is listed at 3-1. Betty Grable favorites are 3 for 11 since the race was moved from Hollywood Park and renamed. It was formerly called the Cat’s Cradle. Other entrants include Hot Girl Walk, No Cap, Sexy Blue, Tina Turner, and Issa Court.
Sean McCarthy trains Grand Slam Smile, a six-time stakes winner who has won eight races and $696,120 from 15 starts for breeders Larry and Marianne Williams. Sired by Smiling Tiger, Grand Slam Smile began her career for trainer Steve Specht, who retired this year.
Grand Slam Smile picked up for McCarthy where she left off with Specht. The pace-pressing filly won two of her first three starts for McCarthy, and was favored Oct. 12 in the California Distaff Handicap on the Santa Anita hillside turf course. Sneaker wore her down to win by a head.
“I don’t have any excuses,” McCarthy said. Grand Slam Smile “ran a good race, and we just got beat. Billy [Antongeorgi, her rider] said when that filly came up to her, at the last minute she made another surge, but it was too late.”
The workout pattern for Grand Slam Smile requires explanation. Her only published work since raced was Oct. 27, but McCarthy also worked her Nov. 2 at Santa Anita. The track was shrouded in fog, and neither McCarthy nor track clockers could time the filly.
“I can’t tell you how fast,” McCarthy said. “She went five-eighths and out three-quarters. I saw her for the last 100 yards is all. She got a good blow out of it. I wanted to put a good work in her.”
Grand Slam Smile’s speed should allow her to get the jump on Sneaker.
George Papaprodromou trains Sneaker, an American Pharoah filly who has won four races and $290,948 from 17 starts. Antonio Fresu rides Sneaker, whose pattern is similar to a previous Betty Grable winner. In 2017, Majestic Heat won the stakes while making her first start on dirt.
No Cap shortens up after finishing second in a California-bred allowance dirt mile. Hot Girl Walk was a stakes winner last year at 2. Sexy Blue is a maiden. Tina Turner is 2 for 2. Issa Court finished third behind Sneaker and Grand Slam Smile last out.
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