Viking prevails in Smile Sprint to cap stakes double for Fawkes
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It was a stakes double with promising horses in the stable for trainer David Fawkes on Saturday. About 15 minutes after Two Seven O, a claim into the barn last November, won his fifth straight race in the Dade Park Dash at Ellis Park, Viking was a wire-to-wire winner of the $100,000 Smile Sprint at Fawkes' base, Gulfstream Park.
Viking ($16.80), under Edwin Gonzalez, led throughout the Smile, posting a sharp opening quarter of 21.81 seconds, and then shaking off some early pressure to open up 1 1/2 lengths through the half in 44.52. He poured it on through the lane to win by 4 1/2 lengths. He stopped the clock in 1:09.71 for the six furlongs.
“He was comfortable his first time here and he did everything right,” Gonzalez said. “I got him to relax and just waited for him to give me that kick turning for home.”
Classic of Course closed from last of seven to be second, 1 1/2 lengths clear of Beach Colt. They were followed, in order, by Guns Loaded, favored Rolando, To the Eastside, and Naughty Rascal.
Viking has raced throughout his career for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, who purchased him as a yearling, but made the first nine starts of his career for trainer Randy Morse. The 5-year-old City of Light gelding won twice for that barn, taking an Oaklawn maiden in January 2025, and an allowance race in Indiana that October. Following an eighth-place finish in an Oaklawn allowance on March 28, Viking was transferred to Fawkes to base in Florida. He had four local breezes coming in to the Smile, his stakes debut.
One race prior to the Smile, favored Gran Oriente ($5.20) overcame a wide trip for his third straight victory, taking the $100,000 Soldier's Dancer Handicap for older horses on the turf. Gran Oriente was five wide on the first turn, and was in the six path under Rasheed Hughes while racing in third in upper stretch. He drove by the dueling Nemo and Tank for a 1 1/4-length win. Nemo held second by half a length over the rallying Missed the Cut.
The time for the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf was 1:39.75.
Gran Oriente is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for Epic Horses, WSS Racing, A M A Stables, BAG Racing Stables, and Paul Braverman. The Chilean-born son of Classic Empire, who is a 5-year-old by Northern Hemisphere standards, was a Group 1 winner in his native country, then came to the U.S. last fall to finish 11th in the Breeders' Cup Mile for trainer Jose Alvarez. He remained in California in the care of trainer Marcelo Polanco, and won two of four starts to begin this year, including an allowance-optional claiming race on April 3 for owner Stud Vendeval.
Gran Oriente was then privately purchased and moved to Joseph, for whom he won the Mr. Steele Stakes on May 16 at Gulfstream, and now the Soldier's Dancer.
“I think he won pretty impressive the last time, too, but you never know how they’re going to run back, so we’re happy that he showed that potential again,” assistant trainer Sabine Langvad said. “He’s been really nice.”
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