Grande Shores brings consistency to Smile Sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Work All Week not only won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and a division championship last year, he also has the distinction of not finishing worse than second in his last 15 starts coming into Sunday’s Grade 2 Smile Sprint.

But the champion sprinter won’t be the only member of the Smile Sprint lineup able to boast about such a remarkable record of consistency. Like Work All Week, Grande Shores has finished first or second in each of his last 15 starts, a skein that extends back to January 2014.

“He’s a pretty special horse, and that’s a pretty special record, but he’s not the only horse in this race to have finished first or second in 15 consecutive starts,” said Stanley Gold, who trains the homebred Grande Shores for Jacks or Better Farm. “Work All Week has done it, too, and his streak includes a Breeders’ Cup win, so you have to keep that in perspective.”

Unlike Work All Week, who will make his local debut in the six-furlong Smile Sprint, Grande Shores has raced exclusively in south Florida. He registered his first victory of the year following a couple of frustrating near misses when rallying from well off the pace to win the Parrot Key overnight stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs on June 6.

“This is going to be an outstanding field, but it’s wide open in a sense there’s going to be so much speed, nobody’s going to get away. It should be an honest, legit, classy pace, and we’ll be coming,” said Gold. “Seven furlongs is probably his best distance. The farther he goes one turn, the more chance he has to put in his run, which is why it’s important nobody should steal the race. He should have time to kick in. Like I said, this is a very good field, but if he could talk, he’d say, ‘Give me a shot.’ ”

The Smile Sprint is a Win and You’re In qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and Grande Shores is Breeders’ Cup eligible, being by Black Mambo.

“I think we’d be very interested in going to the Breeders’ Cup if he were lucky enough to win on Sunday,” said Gold. “I wouldn’t say he’s in any better form now than he was last year. It’s just amazing the way he’s been able to maintain his form for so long. He’s been able to keep going without any layoffs or time off. He had one minor hiccup with colic but bounced back quickly, and he’s sharp, fit, and ready to go right now.”

The Jacks or Better silks will be very active on Sunday. Aside from having Grande Shores in the Smile Sprint, Gold will send out Dogwood Trail in the Grade 3 Azalea and Southern Barbecue in the Grade 3 Carry Back.

Dogwood Trail is coming off a second-place finish after contesting all the pace in a seven-furlong overnight stakes here June 6. She has been first or second in 4 of 5 career starts, her only poor effort coming after an unlucky start in April at Tampa Bay Downs.

“She was hard used on the lead last time, and I was a little disappointed,” said Gold. “But she’s a quality filly, and she belongs in there. She’s training absolutely super and should put in her run.”

Gold said he’d originally planned on running Sing Praises in the Carry Back but had a late change of heart.

“Sing Praises put in a slow work the other day and had no excuse for it,” said Gold. “Something is bothering him, so we have sent him out for evaluation.”

◗ Stakes coordinator Mike Costanzo said he’s been informed by trainer David Jacobson that Salutos Amigos will not wheel back on short rest in the Smile Sprint after winning last Sunday’s Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park. A field of as many as 11 older horses led by Work All Week and Alsvid are expected to go in the Smile Sprint, which headlines Sunday’s Summit of Speed program along with the Grade 2 Princess Rooney.

◗ Edgard Zayas missed any chance of winning the recently concluded spring session when suffering an injury midway through the meet that sidelined him for nearly six weeks. But Zayas wasted little time in serving notice that he will be a force to reckon with during the summer session when winning with the first three mounts he accepted on Tuesday’s opening-day program.