Grand Slam Smile gets back to Tapeta in Golden Gate Debutante

The widest winning margin on the first day of Breeders’ Cup weekend at Santa Anita earlier this month was not a high-profile 2-year-old such as Fierceness, but the California-bred Grand Slam Smile in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies.

Fierceness was brilliant in the Juvenile, winning by 6 1/4 lengths. Grand Slam Smile won by 7 1/4 lengths earlier in the day.

Grand Slam Smile, a winner of 3 of 4 starts for owners and breeders Larry and Marianne Williams and trainer Steve Specht, will be favored to win her third stakes in Saturday’s $50,000 Golden Gate Debutante for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs on the synthetic main track.

Grand Slam Smile is based at Golden Gate Fields with Specht, but has not raced on the surface since she won her debut by four lengths in a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs in May. In June, Grand Slam Smile won the Fasig-Tipton Debutante at Santa Anita and in August was second in the CTBA Stakes at Del Mar.

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The Golden State Juvenile Fillies at seven furlongs was Grand Slam Smile’s easiest win. Ridden by Frank Alvarado, who has the mount on Saturday, Grand Slam Smile closed from fifth in a field of 10 to take the lead with a wide rally. She had a two-length advantage with a furlong remaining, and pulled clear late.

“She was training super going into the race,” Specht said. “She wasn’t short.”

In the Golden Gate Debutante, Grand Slam Smile will start from the outside in a field of six. The outsiders Tour Queen and Wok Don’t Run are expected to set a solid pace from the inside post positions.

Grand Slam Smile is likely to race as a stalker.

“Grand Slam has plenty of speed if you want to let her go, but she’ll rate and be kind,” Specht said. “Just as long as she hits the wire first is all that matters to me.”

Charlene’s Dream, winner of the Pike Place Dancer Stakes at a mile on turf in her stakes debut on Oct. 28, is another stalker with good credentials for Saturday’s race.

Charlene’s Dream won her debut in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs on the synthetic track on Aug. 28 and was a troubled second in an allowance race at the same distance on Oct. 2.

“She should have won that day,” trainer Ed Moger Jr. said.

Charlene’s Dream disputed the pace throughout the Pike Place Dancer Stakes, but is not dependent on that style.

“My filly definitely has speed, but definitely doesn’t have to be on the lead,” Moger said.

“Steve Specht’s filly is a tough horse. She’s a good horse. I think we can outrun her.”

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