Grand Slam Smile shrugs off paddock mishap, wins California Cup Oaks

ARCADIA, Calif. - Grand Slam Smile was tough to handle before Saturday’s California Cup Oaks at Santa Anita and impossible for her rivals to beat a few minutes later.

In the paddock, Grand Slam Smile unseated jockey Frank Alvarado, who feared briefly that he would not be able to ride the race. A few moments later, Alvarado was back aboard Grand Slam Smile en route to the track.

In the one-mile turf race, Grand Slam Smile was challenged for the first six furlongs, but pulled clear to win her third stakes, all at Santa Anita.

“This filly never gives up,” Alvarado said.

Sent off favored, Grand Slam Smile ($6.20) dueled with 21-1 Recalcitrant through early fractions of 22.72 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47 for a half-mile. The two were separated by a head in early stretch, with Asada Fries a close third, when Grand Slam Smile began to draw off.

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Grand Slam Smile led by a half-length with a furlong remaining and won by 2 1/4 lengths. She was timed in 1:36.59 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 70, which equals her career best.

“You’ll think I’m lying, but I wasn’t worried,” winning trainer Steve Specht said in the winner’s circle. “She’s just tough.”

Asada Fries, third in the Soviet Problem Stakes for statebred 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos last month, finished second in the California Cup Oaks in her stakes debut on turf. She won a maiden race on the surface at Del Mar in November.

Juan Hernandez, who rode 2-1 Asada Fries, thought he could challenge Grand Slam Smile on the turn.

“I got close to that horse at the quarter-pole,” Hernandez said. “I was trying to pass her and she broke again.

“I had a good trip. I got beat by a better filly.”

Sushi Sticks, third against males in the Gold Rush Stakes at a mile on the synthetic track at Golden Gate Fields last month, closed from last of eight to finish third at 9-2, beaten 2 3/4 lengths.

Prancingthruparis finished fourth, followed by Madison Rae, Recalcitrant, R Sweet Candy and Petit Filet. Madison Rae, the winner of the Soviet Problem Stakes, had her turf debut in the California Cup Oaks.

Grand Slam Smile unseated Alvarado when Specht gave the veteran jockey a leg up. For a moment, Alvarado was concerned he was injured, but he was quickly back on his feet.

“I didn’t think I could ride her,” Alvarado said.

Specht said that Grand Slam Smile “can be a little tough to handle.”

Grand Slam Smile, owned and bred by Larry and Marianne Williams, had her turf debut in the California Cup Oaks. By Smiling Tiger, Grand Slam Smile has won 4 of 6 starts and earned $329,900.

Grand Slam Smile won the Fasig-Tipton Debutante against open company at Santa Anita in June and the Golden State Juvenile Fillies for statebreds at seven furlongs in November.

Mici's Express takes Cal Cup Derby

In his sixth consecutive appearance in a stakes, Mici’s Express finally claimed a trophy in Saturday’s $188,000 California Cup Derby for statebred 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Mici’s Express stalked a slow pace, rallied three-wide to reach contention on the turn and gradually drew away through the final furlong to win by 1 1/2 lengths over 7-2 Stolen Treasure.

The fourth choice in a field of five, Mici’s Express ($13) ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.75 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 71.

The California Cup Derby was the longest race of Mici’s Express’s career and the first time the colt was fitted with blinkers.

“I felt at the three-eighths pole, I had a lot of horse underneath me,” Rispoli said.

Last Call London, the winner of the King Glorious Stakes for California-breds at a mile at Los Alamitos on Dec. 17, set the pace in the California Cup Derby, through early fractions of 24.62 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 49.33 for a half-mile.

Mici’s Express, trained by Steve Knapp for Tom Halasz, was third on the backstretch, racing within two lengths of Last Call London. Mici’s Express had finished a well-beaten third in the King Glorious after racing from farther off the pace. Rispoli rode Mici’s Express for the first time in the King Glorious and had the colt nearer to the front on Saturday.

“Last time at Los Al, we went too slow and it was too much,” Rispoli said.

“Steve had him more ready and he put blinkers on. It helped to keep him more forward.”

Stolen Treasure, second in the King Glorious, finished second in the California Cup Derby after stalking the pace. Last Call London, the even-money favorite, faded to finish third, followed by Gentlemen’s Club and Wild Jewels.

Mici’s Express, by Slew’s Tiznow, has won 2 of 11 starts and earned $248,520. Prior to Saturday, his best result in a stakes was a second by a nose in the I’m Smokin Stakes for statebreds at six furlongs at Del Mar in September.

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