Grand Slam Smile © Benoit Photo
Mr.-Mrs. Larry D. Williams’ homebred Grand Slam Smile, the 13/10 favorite in Sunday’s 32nd edition of the Solana Beach Stakes for California-breds, went to the front soon after the start and wouldn’t let anyone catch her through a mile on the grass in 1:34.92 at Del Mar, finishing a half length best at the end.
The 4-year-old by Smiling Tiger was handled by Northern California transplant William Antongeorgi III and was saddled by veteran conditioner Sean McCarthy. Both were winning their first stakes race at Del Mar.
Finishing second in the $150,000 headliner was R L Stables’ Sneaker, who had a length on Greenway Racing Stables, Branch or Catone, et al’s Cornelia Fort.
The winner returned $4.60 to her backers in the crowd on a sunny and mild afternoon by the sea. She picked up a first prize of $85,500 and increased her lifetime earnings to $676,120 for her eighth victory in her 14th start. The chestnut speedster has not finished worse than third in any of those 14 outings.
Racing will go on hiatus until Thursday now when first post that afternoon for an eight-race program will be 2 p.m.
WILLIAM ANTONGEORGI (Grand Slam Smile, winner) -- “She broke well, and once we were around the backside she dropped the bridle for me. When she relaxes like that, her ears go up, you know. Yea, Sneaker (second-place finisher) ran a hell of a race. But ‘Smile,’ she is a good one, she battles. I didn’t want to get up in a speed duel; I was going to play the break. She broke running, you know on the bridle, she just towed me up there. Down the backside like I said -- she dropped the bridle on me, you know those ears went up. And I knew at that point, she’s going to be super tough. I am staying here (in Southern California); riding everyday consistently.”
SEAN MCCARTHY (Grand Slam Smile, winner) – “When she broke sharp like that and Billy (Antongerogi) went to the lead I was good with it. As long as she got down the backside and dropped that bit a little bit -- and they didn’t push on her too hard -- we’d be okay and that’s what happened. That filly Sneaker (second-place finisher) put in a heck of a run at it, but when you look her (Grand Slam Smile) in the eye she gets mad and she just dug back in.”
FRACTIONS: :22.65 :46.77 1:10.69 1:22.60 1:34.92
The stakes win was the first at Del Mar for rider Antongeorgi III.
The stakes win was the first at Del Mar for trainer McCarthy
The winning owners are Mr.-Mrs. Larry D. Williams of Boise, ID.