Cool Arrow favored in Smile Sprint

The Grade 3 Smile Sprint headlines a strong 12-race card at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses and goes as race 11 with a scheduled post time of 5:21 p.m. Eastern. The $100,000 Smile is supported by a couple of $75,000 stakes for 3-year-olds going about 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. The Bear’s Den drew nine horses. The Miss Gracie for fillies drew 10 for turf with five horses entered as main-track-only.

Cool Arrow figures to be a short price in the Smile.

Trained by Terri Pompay, Cool Arrow is going for his third straight win, and he had a pretty easy time of it in the $60,000 Opening Lead, his last start on Aug. 2. With Leonel Reyes riding, Cool Arrow came from a stalking position to win the six-furlong dash over a track rated good by 4 1/2 lengths. It was his third start for Pompay, who claimed him on behalf of My Purple Haze Stables for $62,500 on Feb. 7.

In his first start for his new connections, he improved his Beyer Speed Figure from a 72 to 92 when he finished fourth in a conditioned allowance race with a $75,000 claiming option on May 21. He received a 93 Beyer for his 3 1/4-length victory in a second-level allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option on June 21 and a 94 for his romp in the Opening Lead.

With a couple of sharp interim works, the 6-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief appears to be primed for another big effort.

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He will break from post 4 with Reyes retaining the mount. The pace figures to be moderate and he should get a similar trip to the one that led to his blowout win in the Opening Lead.

Krsto Sky is also trending in the right direction. He took a huge step forward after being claimed for $16,000 on Feb. 14 by trainer Carlos David, who was acting on behalf of himself and Daniel Felt.

In his first start for David he finished second going five furlongs on turf in a second-level allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option May 23. He then just missed while finishing third in the $75,000 Turf Sprint on July 5.

Krsto Sky comes into the Smile off a 3 1/2-length victory going six furlongs on the main track in a $10,000 starter race with a $12,500 claiming option on July 31.

Emisael Jaramillo picks up the mount from Samy Camacho. He has some speed and figures to be forwardly placed after breaking from post 2.

There are three 3-year-olds in the field, most notably the Kathy Ritvo-trained Double Crown, who has three wins in four starts and is coming off victories in the $75,000 Roar on May 16 and the $75,000 Carry Back on July 4.

In the Bear’s Den Stakes, the Ruben Gracida-trained Monforte will put his considerable speed to use breaking from the inside post.

He set an honest pace going a mile on turf when he finished second coming off a layoff in the $100,000 Not Surprising on Aug. 8. The Florida-bred had won his four previous races, which included a front-running victory in the $60,000 Sage of Monticello in his previous start on Feb. 17.

Monforte could be gone if he breaks alertly with Edgar Prado retaining the mount.

The Miss Gracie isn’t as clear cut, but with speed to run at, Lady Panda could get up in time with leading rider Edgard Zayas riding for trainer Lilli Kurtinecz.

Blue Mistress, second in the $100,000 Martha Washington on Aug. 8, could be tough to run down if she clears early.