Work All Week, Alsvid work for Smile Sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A number of potential contenders for the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap on July 5 got in key workouts over the last several days, including reigning division champ Work All Week, who went five furlongs in 59.40 seconds at the Churchill Downs training center on Sunday. The previous morning, Alsvid, who spoiled Work All Week’s 2015 debut with his upset victory in the Grade 3 Aristides on May 30, went a half-mile in 48.20 seconds from the three-eighths pole to the seven-furlong marker, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols, before galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.60 over a sloppy track.

On the local front, trainer Marty Wolfson sent out Falling Sky to work a half-mile in 49.05 seconds and gallop out five-eighths in 1:01.36 on Monday. Falling Sky upset the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint for trainer George Weaver during the winter of 2014.

Even more impressive than Falling Sky on Monday was stablemate Royal Squeeze, who breezed four furlongs in 46.94 seconds, completing his final quarter in 22.57 without being asked, before galloping out five-eighths in 59.25 and pulling up six panels in 1:12.74. Royal Squeeze was awarded the victory following the disqualification of odds-on favorite Mr. Jordan in the one-mile Tarpon Stakes on April 25 and could be a candidate for the Grade 3 Carry Back on July 5.