Favorite Tale holds off champ to win Smile Sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Favorite Tale took advantage of a track that seemed to favor speed more and more as the afternoon progressed, leading throughout then drawing away late from defending Sprint champion Work All Week to register a convincing 4 1/4-length triumph in Sunday’s $250,000 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream Park.

By virtue of his victory, Favorite Tale became the first horse to win an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint this fall at Keeneland. The Grade 2 Smile topped the 12-race Summit of Speed program.

Breaking from the rail under jockey Edgar Zayas, Favorite Tale quickly sprinted to command while stalked by Wildcat Red from the outset. Favorite Tale posted splits of 21.84 seconds and 44.09 over the fast track, disposed of Wildcat Red into the stretch, then surged away late from Work All Week once changing leads near the eighth pole.

Work All Week, making just his second start of the season, raced within easy striking distance while kept three wide by jockey Florent Geroux, made a mild run at the leader once settling into the stretch, but proved no match at the end. The 2014 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner was easily second best, finishing 1 1/2 lengths in front of the tiring Wildcat Red.

The start of the Smile was delayed briefly after Falling Sky broke through the gate and unseated rider Edgar Prado. Falling Sky never was a factor, finishing eighth in a field of nine older horses.

Favorite Tale, a son of Tale of the Cat, is trained by Guadalupe Preciado for the PJG Stable. He covered six furlongs in 1:08.85 and paid $17.

“We hoped he could run a good race here because last year, the owners wanted to go to the Breeders’ Cup, but he’s not eligible, and it costs a lot of money,” said Preciado. “He was training beautiful for this race. This track is fast, and it’s good for this type of horse. Now we need to figure out how to get [to the Breeders’ Cup]. We don’t have to kill him against the big horses before the big race.”

Richard Papiese, the owner of Midwest Thoroughbreds, said when Falling Sky broke through the gate, Work All Week tried to do likewise.

“[Work All Week] actually smashed his face [on the gate] and was bleeding,” said Papiese. “The track is a little dry right now, but we have no excuses, with the exception of him breaking through the gate. That was not a good thing. But the horse is doing well. He’ll run again. He’ll have his say before it’s over.”