O'Dwyer confident freshened Sibelius ready for Smile Sprint

The Smile Sprint at Gulfstream Park lost its graded status this season for the first time in 21 years, although Saturday’s renewal has drawn a graded stakes-caliber lineup led by 2023 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Sibelius, who makes his first start since finishing a disappointing 11th when attempting to defend his title earlier this spring at Meydan.

Sibelius will face just seven rivals going six furlongs in the $120,000 Smile, including Octane, winner of the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park in February, and Run Classic who finished seventh in this year’s Golden Shaheen. The remainder of the lineup includes Legacy Isle and Loco Abarrio, plus the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained threesome of Swirvin, Mish, and Comedy Town.

Sibelius pulled off a stunning upset for trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer when defeating Switzerland and Gunite in last year’s Golden Shaheen. The heart-pounding nose victory completed a three-race winning streak for Sibelius, who had previously captured the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream Park and the Pelican Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

O’Dwyer used the same path to get his star back to the Golden Shaheen, sending Sibelius out to successfully win the Mr. Prospector and Pelican. Unfortunately, the story did not have the same fairy-tale ending, with Sibelius tiring badly in the Golden Shaheen after prompting the running into the stretch. He ultimately finished 16 1/2 lengths behind runaway winner Tuz.

“Ryan [Moore] came back after the race and said he kept getting crowded the whole way, he never could get comfortable, get into a rhythm and finish his race. And I’m fine with that explanation,” O’Dwyer said when asked to comment on Sibelius’s effort. “He seems to be doing nicely coming into this race. We haven’t overtrained him, he’s good when he’s fresh, and I like the post position being on the outside. I’m expecting to see him give a good account of himself and show us he’s bounced back from his race in Dubai.”

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Sibelius will start from post 7 under Edwin Gonzalez.

Although the 5-year-old Arindel homebred Octane captured the Razorback around two turns, he’s actually been more effective throughout his career in one-turn races. And while seven furlongs to a mile are probably his optimum distances, he won his only previous start going six furlongs, an entry-level allowance race with an 87 Beyer Speed Figure, at 3.

Octane, who has earned more than $1.1 million, also may be coming off arguably the best race of his career on May 25 when drawing away to a popular 6 1/4-length triumph in the seven-furlong Big Drama for which he earned a lifetime-best 100 Beyer Figure in his 20th start.

Run Classic earned a trip to Dubai after returning from a near 10-month layoff to dominate the Gulfstream Park Sprint on Feb. 24. He was never a serious factor in the Golden Shaheen when beaten a dozen lengths.

Like Octane, he is a versatile sort, having finished a close third in the Grade 3 Mineshaft at 1 1/16 miles during the winter of 2023.

Joseph knows his trio will have to be at their very best if they are to battle for the major prizes in the Smile.

“This is a very strong, very competitive race,” said the meet’s perennial leading trainer. “If they’d gotten this type of field the last couple of years the race probably would have kept its graded status.”

Mish was a stakes winner in March when capturing the restricted Tampa Bay Sprint for Florida-breds and exits a third-place finish in an overnight stakes at Lone Star Park. Swirvin and Comedy Town are both coming off allowance wins in their last starts. They earned 90 Beyer Figures in those performances.

“Mish is ultra-consistent, Swirvin we got back on track last time, and Comedy Town won his first start ever on dirt here last month, although it was a sloppy track that day so the question is whether he just liked the wet track,” Joseph said.

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