By DRF.com
DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2025) – Although she has won twice as often and earned twice as much, Grand Slam Smile has a score to settle with her nemesis Sneaker on Sunday at Del Mar.
Seven Golden State Series-eligibke fillies and mares are entered the $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes, which is basically a rubber match between two who composed the exacta in recent stakes on turf. Sneaker upset Grand Slam Smile last out in a sprint; Grand Slam Smile beat Sneaker two back in a route.
The difference Sunday is footing. The Betty Grable is seven furlongs on dirt, which is fine for Grand Slam Smile. She has won on dirt, turf, and synthetic. Sneaker, however, is uncertain. She has raced exclusively on turf and Sunday will be her first start on dirt.
Grand Slam Smile is the 7-5 program favorite, while Sneaker is listed at 3-1. Betty Grable favorites are 3 for 11 since the race was moved from Hollywood Park and renamed. It was formerly called the Cat’s Cradle. Other entrants include Hot Girl Walk, No Cap, Sexy Blue, Tina Turner, and Issa Court.
Sean McCarthy trains Grand Slam Smile, a six-time stakes winner who has won eight races and $696,120 from 15 starts for breeders Larry and Marianne Williams. Sired by Smiling Tiger, Grand Slam Smile began her career for trainer Steve Specht, who retired this year.
Grand Slam Smile picked up for McCarthy where she left off with Specht. The pace-pressing filly won two of her first three starts for McCarthy, and was favored Oct. 12 in the California Distaff Handicap on the Santa Anita hillside turf course. Sneaker wore her down to win by a head.
“I don’t have any excuses,” McCarthy said. Grand Slam Smile “ran a good race, and we just got beat. Billy [Antongeorgi, her rider] said when that filly came up to her, at the last minute she made another surge, but it was too late.”
The workout pattern for Grand Slam Smile requires explanation. Her only published work since raced was Oct. 27, but McCarthy also worked her Nov. 2 at Santa Anita. The track was shrouded in fog, and neither McCarthy nor track clockers could time the filly.
“I can’t tell you how fast,” McCarthy said. “She went five-eighths and out three-quarters. I saw her for the last 100 yards is all. She got a good blow out of it. I wanted to put a good work in her.”
Grand Slam Smile’s speed should allow her to get the jump on Sneaker.
George Papaprodromou trains Sneaker, an American Pharoah filly bred by Fountain of Youth Breeding, who has won four races and $290,948 from 17 starts. Antonio Fresu rides Sneaker, whose pattern is similar to a previous Betty Grable winner. In 2017, Majestic Heat won the stakes while making her first start on dirt.
No Cap, bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, shortens up after finishing second in a California-bred allowance dirt mile. Hot Girl Walk was a stakes winner last year at 2. Sexy Blue is a maiden. Tina Turner is 2 for 2. Issa Court finished third behind Sneaker and Grand Slam Smile last out.
Issa Court is by Acclamation, out of the Johannesburg mare Subpoena the Dress, was bred by Harris Farms, is owned by Howard & Janet Siegel Racing and trained by Robert Hess Jr. She has six wins in 25 starts, earnings of $289,768 and is coming off a third in the Oct. 12 California Distaff.
Hot Girl Walk is by Bodexpress, out of the Awesome Again mare Awesome Mama, was bred by owner Richard Barton Enterprises and is trained by Carla Gaines. She has two wins in 11 starts, earnings of $163,500 and is coming off a ninth in the Aug. 17 Solana Beach.
Sexy Blue is by Lord Nelson, out of the City Zip mare Hot in the City, was bred by Legacy Ranch, is owned by Joseph Vega and trained by Angel Vega. She is a maiden making her 11th start with earnings of $39,500.
Tina Turner is by Grazen, out of the Bertrando mare Sudden Sunday, was bred by owner Nick Alexander and is trained by Steve Knapp. She has won both starts with earnings of $63,600 and is coming off a win in an Oct. 25 optional claimer.