Top California sire Smiling Tiger dies at 17

Smiling Tiger, a fixture among leading stallions in California since 2018, was euthanized on Thursday because of complications of ataxia.

Through Thursday, Smiling Tiger led all stallions in California in progeny earnings, with more than $2.38 million. Smiling Tiger’s death was first reported by Bloodhorse.com. Ataxia is a muscle control disorder.

Smiling Tiger, who was 17, was fourth among the state’s stallion in progeny earnings in 2022 and rose to third last year. He ranked ninth in 2018 and was sixth for three consecutive years from 2019 through 2021.

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Smiling Tiger stood at Harris Farms in Coalinga, Calif.

This year, Smiling Tiger’s leading runner has been Shady Tiger, who has won 4 for 6 starts for owner and breeder Rusty Brown. A gelding, Shady Tiger finished third in Friday’s $150,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for 3-year-old statebreds at seven furlongs at Del Mar.

Smiling Tiger was owned as a stallion by Phil Lebherz and Alan Klein.

On the track, Smiling Tiger won 9 of 23 starts and earned $1,480,704 under the direction of trainer Jeff Bonde. Smiling Tiger’s wins included three Grade 1 sprint stakes – the 2010 Bing Crosby at Del Mar and Ancient Title Stakes at Hollywood Park, and the 2011 Triple Bend Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Smiling Tiger was third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint twice – at Churchill Downs in 2010 and at Santa Anita in 2012.

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