Smiles Golden Song shoots for fourth stakes win

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Smiles Golden Song might get an ideal setup Saturday night, when she chases the fourth stakes win of her career in the $50,000 Lane’s End Stallion Scholarship at Lone Star Park. She will be turning back in distance for the 7 1/2-furlong turf race for Texas-bred fillies and mares that drew such speedsters as Lasting Bubbles, Triplemental, and Molly’s Honour. The field of 11 also includes the multiple stakes-winning closer Thegirlinthatsong.

The Lane’s End complements the Texas Thoroughbred Association’s annual meeting Saturday at Lone Star. During the gathering, the organization will honor Worldventurer as the Texas-bred Horse of the Year for 2013.

Smiles Golden Song has proven to be one of the top turf runners in Texas. She accounted for the $50,000 Fiesta Mile at Retama Park in November and, one start later, won the $50,000 San Jacinto at Sam Houston Race Park in January.

“She’s one of the best mares we’ve ever had,” said Bill Baird, who bred and races Smiles Golden Song with his wife, Sylvia Baird.

Larry Stroope trains Smiles Golden Song, who will be returning to the statebred ranks after finishing third in a $30,000 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Lone Star on May 1. The start was her first in two months, and since the race, two horses who finished behind Smiles Golden Song have come back to win, taking races at Lone Star and Louisiana Downs.

Smiles Golden Song will break from the rail under jockey Dakota Wood. Smiles Golden Song is a 5-year-old by My Golden Song and the mare Texas Smile, and she was foaled on the Bairds’ farm in Aubrey, which is located in North Texas.

“The mare is 20 years old,” said Sylvia Baird.

The Bairds raced Texas Smile and said she has been bred back to My Golden Song. The foal she produces next spring will be her last, said Bill Baird. The cross is the same as Smiles Golden Song, and that is because of her success and because Bill Baird likes that both sides of the family have “In Reality in the bloodline.”

Smiles Golden Song is a winner of 8 of 23 starts and $193,469.