Plenty of options on horizon for California-bred Grand Slam Smile

ARCADIA, Calif. – Grand Slam Smile, winner of Saturday’s $98,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita, is a California-bred filly who could start at Del Mar in statebred stakes or graded stakes.

Trained by Steve Specht for owners and breeders Larry and Marianne Williams, Grand Slam Smile is unbeaten in two starts. She won her debut in a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs on the synthetic main track on May 14 at Golden Gate Fields, and closed from third in a field of four in the Fasig-Tipton Debutante at five furlongs on dirt to win by a half-length.

“I thought she handled it pretty good,” Specht said of the surface switch. “She got in there and wore them down.

“I don’t see any reason she won’t go long. She’s bred for it. She’s a little high maintenance. She’s strong-willed.”

By Smiling Tiger, Grand Slam Smile is a half-sister to Royal ’n Rando, winner of the Silky Sullivan Stakes for 3-year-old statebred milers on turf at Golden Gate Fields in 2022.

The first stakes for 2-year-old statebred fillies at Del Mar this summer is the $125,000 CTBA Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 6. The first graded stakes for 2-year-old fillies is the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs on Aug. 12.

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