Comedy Town shows he's right at home on dirt in Smile Sprint

Comedy Town, a synthetic and turf specialist throughout the first 24 starts of his career, has found a new home on dirt, registering his second win in as many tries over the surface after rallying to a 1 1/4-length victory over Run Classic in Saturday’s $120,000 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream Park.

He defeated a field that included 2023 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Sibelius, who finished third, and Grade 3 winner Octane, who checked in a very disappointing seventh and last as the even-money favorite.

Comedy Town caught a sloppy track when switching to dirt for the first time on June 8, registering a two-length, gate-to-wire victory over modest optional claiming and allowance competition for which he earned a career-best 90 Beyer Speed Figure. He was even better when returning on dry land for the six-furlong Smile.

With jockey Drayden Van Dyke aboard for the first time, Comedy Town broke a step slow, then used his abundant speed to put himself within easy striking distance leaving the backstretch. Comedy Town was sent up four wide to challenge into the stretch, readily overtook Sibelius after five furlongs, edged away, then maintained a clear advantage to the end.

Run Classic, who finished seventh in the 2024 Golden Shaheen in his last start, raced about five lengths off the early leaders, came five to six paths wide leaving the turn, finished willingly out near the center of the track but could never seriously menace the winner.

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Sibelius, making his first outing since finishing a disappointing 11th in defense of his Golden Shaheen title during the spring, prompted the early running three wide, gained command from Octane approaching the stretch, before gradually weakening through the final furlong.

Comedy Town, a 6-year-old son of Speightstown, is owned in partnership by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and Ten Twenty Racing. He completed the distance over a fast track in 1:10.03 seconds and paid $25.80.

“He was working well on dirt a week after we claimed him," Joseph said. "He ran his first race on Tapeta, and he didn’t run that good. I decided to give him a chance on the dirt. Last time when he won it was a sloppy track. He was training well, and today he was super impressive. He sat off horses. He went by some nice horses. He proved he is legit and he showed a new dimension.”

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