Grinning Tiger, 92-1, brings smile to backers in Crystal Water Stakes

Grinning Tiger provided a stunning result in Saturday’s $101,500 Crystal Water Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita, leading throughout as the longest shot in the field and paying $186.

Ridden by Heriberto Figueroa, Grinning Tiger held an advantage of at least a length throughout and was unbothered in the stretch, finishing 1 3/4 lengths clear of Lieutenant Dan, a three-time stakes winner. Brandothebartender, the winner of the 2019 California Flag Handicap, finished third, beaten 2 1/4 lengths.

Grinning Tiger was timed in 1:35.75 in his stakes debut at a mile. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91.

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Figueroa rode Grinning Tiger for the fourth time on Saturday. He said Grinning Tiger can become anxious before a race.

“You’ve got to keep him quiet,” he said. “He relaxed pretty good.”

Grinning Tiger set a modest pace of 23.46 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.73 for a half-mile.

“When I saw him with a half in 47, I felt pretty good - for a 90-1 shot,” winning trainer Anthony Saavedra said.

Grinning Tiger beat a solid field. King Abner finished fourth, followed by Ward ‘n Jerry, Cono, Prince Earl and Oliver. Prince Earl, the 4-5 favorite, won the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile last August and had his first start of 2020 on Saturday. Prince Earl was not a factor and was beaten 9 1/4 lengths. Ward ‘n Jerry and Oliver are stakes winners.

Grinning Tiger has won 8 of 27 starts and earned $209,801. The Crystal Water win ended a five-racing losing streak, since he won an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at Los Alamitos last September. Since then, Grinning Tiger has run only in stakes, with his best finish a second-place finish in the California Flag Stakes last October.

A 5-year-old gelding by Smiling Tiger, Grinning Tiger was bred in Oregon. He qualified for the Crystal Water Stakes because he is by a stallion based in California. The Crystal Water Stakes was restricted to California-bred and California-sired runners.

In his most recent start at a mile prior to Saturday, Grinning Tiger was fifth of six in a $9,000 allowance race at Portland Meadows in Oregon in January 2019. Grinning Tiger was claimed for $12,500 at Portland Meadows in his following start by current owner Tyree Wolesensky in early 2019.

Portland Meadows has since closed.

The surprise win was the first stakes win for Saavedra since Shadow of Illinois won the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes in 2005, and the first for Figueroa since Bob and Jackie won the Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar last November.