Smiling Tiger headed to auction after BC

Breeders’ Cup Sprint hopeful Smiling Tiger will head to auction after that race, selling agent Archie St. George announced Thursday.

Winner of the Triple Bend at Holywood Park in July, Smiling Tiger will sell as Hip No. 150 in Fasig-Tipton’s November sale in Lexington, Ky., which takes place on Nov. 6, the day after the Sprint. Owners Alan Klein and Philip Lebherz will offer Smiling Tiger, a 4-year-old Hold That Tiger colt, as a racing or stallion prospect.

Smiling Tiger finished third in last year’s Sprint, about two lengths behind the winner, Big Drama, after bobbling early. He won two of his three Grade 1 races – the Ancient Title Stakes and the Bing Crosby Handicap – last year at 3, beating older foes. This year he has won the Triple Bend, the Grade 2 San Carlos Handicap, and the Grade 3 Count Fleet Handicap. In is most recent outing, Smiling Tiger finished fourth behind The Factor in Del Mar’s Aug. 28 Pat O’Brien, and plans call for him to train up to his second Breeders’ Cup Sprint attempt.

Smiling Tiger’s earnings stand at $1,214,353, and he has seven stakes wins – six graded – so far.

He is out of the Cahill Road stakes-winner Shandra Smiles.

Jeff Bonde trains Smiling Tiger.