Work All Week gets another shot at Alsvid in Smile Sprint
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Work All Week dropped his 2015 debut in the Grade 3 Aristides at Churchill Downs to a red-hot Alsvid. The reigning sprint champion has traveled nearly 1,100 miles since then and will try to avenge that setback when he and Alsvid meet at Gulfstream Park in Sunday’s $250,000 Smile Sprint Stakes.
The Grade 2 Smile Sprint will be decided at six furlongs and is a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The Smile Sprint tops a 12-race program that includes four graded stakes and features a special appearance by Triple Crown-winning jockey Victor Espinoza, who will ride the longshot City of Weston in the Smile Sprint.
Work All Week capped off his championship season in 2014 with a game half-length decision over defending champion Secret Circle in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. After being freshened in Ocala, Fla., this winter, Work All Week had his 2015 debut delayed by bad weather and minor physical issues before finally returning in the Aristides, in which he dropped a two-length decision to Alsvid after a bit of an unlucky start.
“The start kind of compromised his chances a little last time,” said Roger Brueggemann, who trains Work All Week for Midwest Thoroughbreds. “And he may not have been back to himself just yet. Everything’s gone well since that start. He worked a very fast but very easy half-mile last weekend at Churchill, and hopefully the real Work All Week will show up on Sunday.”
Alsvid registered his third straight victory and second Grade 3 win by rallying to win the Aristides, a performance that was flattered when fourth-place finisher Viva Majorca came back to win the Kelly’s Landing Stakes last weekend at Churchill Downs. As with Work All Week, trainer Chris Hartman said Alsvid couldn’t be doing better coming out of the race.
“He’s been working lights out and is as good as I can get him right now,” said Hartman.
The two likely favorites will face formidable opposition in the Smile Sprint, including Favorite Tale, Wildcat Red, Grande Shores, Falling Sky, and Ledokol.
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Key contenders
Work All Week (Last 3 Beyers: 93-105-100)
* Brueggemann said he likes his outside post and would love to see Work All Week get a similar trip to what he got in the Breeders’ Cup, stalking another speed horse. Work All Week attended the pace of Fast Anna before taking command in the 2014 Sprint.
Alsvid (Last 3 Beyers: 98-105-95)
* He must concede four pounds to the champ while carrying the highweight of 121 pounds under the allowance conditions of the Smile Sprint.
“Giving away a few pounds doesn’t concern me,” said Hartman. “He’s the now horse, and he’s in good form, and as long as he handles the weather and handles the track, I think he’ll bring his game again.”
Falling Sky (Last 3 Beyers: 98-95-72)
* Makes his first start since being transferred to trainer Marty Wolfson’s barn this summer and his first since finishing third in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap for George Weaver last summer at Saratoga.
* He’s been training extremely well over the past month for his return while reuniting with Edgar Prado, who rode him to a stakes win last summer at Parx.
Grande Shores (Last 3 Beyers: 85-90-105)
* Like Work All Week, he has not finished worse than second in his last 15 starts, although trainer Stanley Gold believes he’s actually more effective at seven furlongs than at six.
Favorite Tale (Last 3 Beyers: 85-98-92)
* Another making his local debut, he figures to have his hand forced early after breaking from the rail, as was the case in his last start when rushing to the lead after stumbling out of the gate in the Grade 2 True North.