Sorrento favorite Smash Ticket needs to improve gate manners
Given that the fastest 2-year-old filly in California has yet to master the most important part of a race, what will happen when she finally learns how to break?
It could happen Friday when Smash Ticket starts favored in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar, a six-furlong race that is the circuit’s first graded stake for juvenile fillies. Eleven entered, but no more than nine are likely to start, including one standout.
Smash Ticket crushed maidens at Del Mar last out, winning by five with a 78 Beyer, highest this year by a California juvenile filly. Smash Ticket enters the Sorrento with a double-digit advantage over debut winner Elm Drive (66 Beyer) and further benefits by two likely key scratches. The trainers of stakes winner At the Spa and impressive debut winner It’s Simple both said they intend to run in the CTBA Stakes on Thursday.
As for Smash Ticket, she ran fast in both her starts despite missing the break. She finished second in her 76-Beyer debut at Lone Star, and though she broke better next out at Del Mar, it was not a particularly clean start. There is a reason.
Smash Ticket is not a typical revved-up 2-year-old, which is weird because her entire family runs hot. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen one as quiet and laid back,” trainer Todd Fincher said. “The odd thing is her mother was hot-hot, and [sibling] Slammed has been a handful, too. This filly, you couldn’t find one any quieter.”
An attribute they do share is raw ability, and Fincher would know. He trained them all, including Smash Ticket’s dam, Hennesey Smash, a Southwest-circuit multiple stakes winner who won 7 of 8 and is making an impact as a producer for breeder Brad King.
Hennesey Smash’s five foals include two-time stakes winner Roll On Diabolical; 3-year-old filly Slammed, a two-time stakes winner who romped last week at Ruidoso Downs; and an unraced yearling colt by Arrogate. The focus Friday is Smash Ticket, who would be the first filly to win the Sorrento after beginning her career at Lone Star.
Fincher, based in the Southwest, recognized Smash Ticket’s ability early. She trained at Albuquerque and Lone Star, and made her debut June 5.
“She’s done everything great; she doesn’t get fired up,” he said. “She’s so laid back. She’s never broke good and I’ve never pushed her.
“She’s so cool about everything. I could have pushed her to make her break better, but I didn’t want to push that button with her. Her whole family has been so hot and I didn’t want to go the other way with [Smash Ticket].”
Smash Ticket broke slowly first out, rallied wide, took aim at front-running winner Wicked Halo, and missed by two lengths while finishing more than 10 clear of third. It turned out to be a live race. Wicked Halo subsequently finished third in the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs; third place Wholelottamo won a maiden race next out. Smash Ticket, immediately after her debut, acted like she had done it before.
“Instead of getting all worked up and excited, she just [lowered] her head and walked off, like nothing,” Fincher said.
By the time Smash Ticket shipped to California, the Lone Star maiden race had been validated and she started at even-money at Del Mar under Umberto Rispoli. She broke slowly from post 3, unleashed speed to press two wide, made the lead into the turn, and crushed.
Under the daily care of groom Manny Roman and exercise rider Ricardo Jaime, Smash Ticket has progressed since her maiden win 20 days ago. Fincher acknowledged her undesirable post (2), but is otherwise optimistic. “She’s more ready now than she’s ever been,” he said.
Smash Ticket, owned by Brad King, Stan Kirby, and Suzanne Kirby, would be the fifth favorite to win the Sorrento in the past seven years.
Her main rival is Elm Drive, trained by Phil D’Amato. She won first out by eight lengths on June 26 at Los Alamitos.
“After she won, our plan has been [the Sorrento],” D’Amato said. “We gave her two breezes here at Del Mar to get used to the track, and her last breeze was exactly what you want to see going into this kind of race.”
Little Red Feather Racing owns Elm Drive, a Mohaymen filly whose siblings including stakes winners Mother of Dragons and Well Maybe. Juan Hernandez rides Elm Drive.
Others in the Sorrento field include She’s So Shiny, Eda, Shesgotattitude, Loveherheart, Sax, First Promise, and Roses for Suzzett.