Grand Slam Smile was doing well on Sunday morning and on a van headed north to Pleasanton a little more than 12 hours after winning the five-furlong Fasig-Tipton Debutante at Santa Anita.
Trained by Steve Specht, Grand Slam Smile won the Debutante by a half-length under Frank Alvarado when making her first start on dirt. The Smiling Tiger 2-year-old filly, who won her debut going 4 ½ furlongs on synthetic at Golden Gate May 14, paid $9.40 as the third choice in a four-horse field.
Grand Slam Smile was bred in California by Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams, who also campaign the filly. Specht said Grand Slam Smile was sent to Santa Anita with a high degree of confidence despite having never raced or worked on a dirt surface.
“If a horse is a runner, it's a runner,” Specht said. “Some tracks might not be to their biggest benefit, but if they have talent it's going to show.”
Grand Slam Smile's talent was on display Saturday. After breaking well, she put outside pressure on pacesetter Becky' Dream until turning into the stretch when, with 3-5 favorite Crazy Hot coming on her outside, Grand Slam Smile lost touch of the leader. It proved to be only momentary. Grand Slam Smile quickly re-engaged and surged to the front inside the sixteenth pole to get the win.
“We were confident going into the race, but I was a little concerned at the head of the lane when Bonde's horse (Crazy Hot) rolled up and she dropped back,” Specht said. “But Frank was able to get back up in there before it was too late.”
Next up for Grand Slam Smile will likely be the CTBA Stakes for statebreds going 5 ½ furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 6.
“There's a little stake at Pleasanton coming up, but it's probably a little too soon. I don't want to run her back that quick,” Specht said. “The stake at Del Mar is probably the right amount of time for her. You'll see her there.”
Grand Slam Smile is out of the Grand Slam mare Royal Grand Slam, a two-time winner on the track for Specht and the Williams's who ha also been prolific in the breeding shed. According to Pedigreequeery.com, Royal Grand Slam has had seven foals to race and all have been winners. Five of her foals have banked more than $100,000 on the track.
As for Grand Slam Smile, Specht said she's always displayed talent but “she's not a filly that's very easy to deal with.”
“She's been a little bit of a chore,” he added. “She has her own disposition. You just have to kind of work with her. She's not going to let you shove her around. But she's getting better and she'll get over that stuff with maturity. She's not stupid, just strong willed.”
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