A rollicking 6 ½ length first-out maiden winner going 5 ½ furlongs on Sept. 10, the Gary Mandella-trained Mirinda will stretch out to seven panels as she heads a field of 11 in Friday's $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita.
The Golden State Juvenile Fillies is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired horses.
A $190,000 yearling purchase, Mirinda was off as the even money favorite in a field of 10 at Del Mar and led throughout in a powerful effort under Mike Smith, who rides back on Friday.
By Mitole out of the More Than Ready mare Whim, Mirinda is owned by Thomas Nichols.
A four length first-out maiden winner going 4 ½ furlongs as the 3-5 favorite on May 14 at Golden Gate Fields, Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams' homebred Grand Slam Smile shipped south to Santa Anita and proved best at 7-2 in the five furlong Fasig Tipton Debutante June 17, winning by a half length over heavily backed Crazy Hot, who she'll face again on Friday.
Based at Golden Gate with veteran conditioner Steve Specht, Grand Slam Smile proved plenty tough at 5 ½ furlongs, when a close second in the CTBA Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 6. Freshened since, she should be plenty tough with a bullet 59.40 gate drill, best of 58 at the distance, on Oct. 23 at Golden Gate.
By Smiling Tiger out of the Grand Slam mare Royal Grand Slam, Grand Slam Smile will be ridden for the fourth consecutive time by Frank Alvarado, who recently notched his 4,000 career win.
THE $175,000 GOLDEN STATE JUVENILE FILLIES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 2 of 10 Approximate post time 12 p.m. PT
- Recalcitrant—Lanfranco Dettori—122
- Borntostaythirsty—Tiago Pereira—122
- Satellite Heart—Umberto Rispoli—120
- Petit Filet—Ricardo Ramirez—122
- Mirinda—Mike Smith—122
- Prancingthruparis—Antonio Fresu—122
- Grand Slam Smile—Frank Alvarado—124
- Madison Rae—Flavien Prat—122
- Fly A Fantasy—Kent Desormeaux—122
- Putt For Dough—Mario Gutierrez—122
- Crazy Hot—John Velazquez–124
Friday is day one of the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita. With a blockbuster 10-race card that will include five Breeders' Cup races, first post time is at 11:30 a.m. with admission gates opening at 9:30 a.m.
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