Sneaker salvages weekend with California Distaff Handicap triumph

ARCADIA, Calif. - Sneaker, the 4-year-old filly, made racetrack news at Santa Anita on Saturday and Sunday for good and bad reasons.

On Saturday, Sneaker was disqualified from the purse money of the $100,500 Fran’s Valentine Stakes at Santa Anita in May after testing positive for the regulated substance capsaicin.

The decision was announced by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit in September. At the time, trainer George Papaprodromou was given a seven-day suspension for the infraction.

On Sunday, Sneaker won for the first time since the Fran’s Valentine Stakes in the $100,000 California Distaff Handicap for statebred fillies and mares at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Sneaker ($8.40) closed from fourth in a field of five to win by a head over 11-10 favorite Grand Slam Smile.

Sneaker has often led or raced near the front in her 17-race career, but Papaprodromou said her best chance in the California Distaff was to race as a stalker.

“I told (Rispoli) to sit right off of them,” he said. “It worked out perfect.”

Bit’s Tiger Magic, the 9-5 second choice, set a solid pace of 21.79 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, and 43.51 for a half-mile, leading by at least a half-length over Grand Slam Smile, the 125-pound topweight.

Sneaker took the lead near the finish. She was timed in 1:11.73 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84.

Sneaker carried 123 pounds. Grand Slam Smile, trained by Sean McCarthy, was the topweight on the strength of a recent win in the $151,500 Solana Beach Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 27, her sixth career stakes win.

“She got the right break and was sitting in the right spot,” McCarthy said. “It set up well for Sneaker.”

Grand Slam Smile was followed in the order of finish by Issa Court, Bit’s Tiger Magic, and Moment’s Pleasure. Only five ran.

Sneaker, owned by RL Stable, has won 4 of 17 starts and earned $290,948. Following her disqualification in the Fran’s Valentine, the California Distaff becomes her first stakes win.

A 4-year-old filly, Sneaker is by Oscar Performance. Since the Fran’s Valentine, Sneaker was second by a half-length to Grand Slam Smile in the Solana Beach Stakes, and ninth of 11 in an allowance race at a mile on turf against open company at Del Mar on Aug. 30.

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