ARCADIA, Calif. – She led throughout the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes in September and tried the same tactics in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf last month, only to finish sixth. In Saturday’s Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita, Mirth was ridden with a different strategy in mind. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, winning his third of four stakes of the day, guided Mirth ($4.80) from off the pace to win the $101,053 Frankel Stakes by the slimmest of noses over 7-1 Tiny Tina. The result gave trainer Phil D’Amato a sweep of the exacta. Mirth was timed in 1:48.32 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90. Smith was as surprised as he was delighted that Mirth beat Tina Tina, who was ridden by Javier Castellano. “He got in front of me, but she dug back in,” Smith said. D’Amato said earlier in the week that Mirth was not reliant on having the lead. Smith put the theory to the test shortly after the start of the Frankel, positioning Mirth in fifth place in the field of eight. Harmless set an honest pace of 23.95 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.77 for a half-mile, with Mirth trailing by about three lengths. “There was more pace than I expected, but that was fine with me,” Smith said. “I got to sit and wait.” Mirth was fifth and then sixth in the final half-mile before Smith moved her into contention with a three-wide move on the turn. Mirth led by a head over Harmless with a furlong remaining, and looked beaten by Tiny Tina before recovering for the narrow win. Tiny Tina was stakes-placed for the first time in the Frankel Stakes. Tiny Tina finished three-quarters of a length in front of 3-2 second choice Excellent Sunset. Don’t Blame Judy finished fourth, followed by Curlin’s Journey, Steak of Luck, Ms Peintour, and Harmless. Mirth, a 4-year-old filly by Colonel John, has won 6 of 18 starts and earned $395,563. Owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Mirth won her first stakes in the Rodeo Drive Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf, the first time Smith was aboard. In the BC Filly and Mare Turf, Mirth led to the final furlong, but faded to finish 5 3/4 lengths behind Iridessa. “The first time I rode her it went so well I didn’t want to change it,” Smith said. “In the Breeders’ Cup, if they didn’t respect her, I thought I’ll keep going and try to hold them off. I’m learning about her. If someone has to go, I know she’ll sit off of them.”