Grand Slam Smile outlasts Issa Court in Betty Grable Stakes
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DEL MAR, Calif. – Heavily favored Grand Slam Smile won her seventh stakes race Sunday at Del Mar, where she wore down stubborn pacesetter Issa Court to win the $100,500 Betty Grable Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths.
Sean McCarthy trains Grand Slam Smile ($3.40), who was ridden by William Antongeorgi in the seven-furlong sprint for California-bred fillies and mares.
“This filly is just so damn game,” McCarthy said. “You talk about horses around the country, and this is just a Cal-bred stakes, but she’s as game as any racehorse out there right now. She just loves to fight.”
Grand Slam Smile had a fight on her hands in the Betty Grable, because pacesetter Issa Court would not quit. Issa Court set the pace through fractions of :22.45 and :45.44, while shadowed by Grand Slam Smile.
Antongeorgi has ridden Grand Slam Smile all five starts since she was transferred to McCarthy. The filly began her career with trainer Steve Specht, who retired this year. Antongeorgi said Grand Slam Smile adapts to any situation, which she did Sunday.
“I thought the race was playing into our hands today, and to be honest, I thought we were going to be on the lead,” Antongeorgi said. “She’s a versatile filly, on the lead or off of it, on dirt or off. She’s such a classy horse.”
Passing the quarter pole, Antongeorgi asked Grand Slam Smile to go after the pacesetter. She got the best of her in deep stretch, and drew away in 1:22.34. The win by Grand Slam Smile was the ninth of her career. She also has six runner-up finishes from 16 starts.
“When they show up like that every time, it just gives me chills,” McCarthy said.
Larry and Marianne Williams bred and own Grand Slam Smile, a Smiling Tiger filly whose career earnings are $753,120. McCarthy said plans call for her to remain in training next year at age 5.
“Maybe we’ll ship around a little bit, get some open company, deeper into the pool, and see how we fare,” McCarthy said.
The disappointment in the Betty Grable was 4-1 second choice Sneaker, who defeated Grand Slam Smile last out on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita. But the Betty Grable was Sneaker’s first dirt race. She did not like it, and finished last.
“She couldn’t find her feet,” Sneaker’s rider Antonio Fresu said. Her trainer George Papaprodromou said Sneaker will return to turf for her next start.
After one-two finishers Grand Slam Smile and Issa Court, the order of finish was completed by No Cap, Hot Girl Walk, Tina Turner, Sexy Blue and Sneaker.
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