From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 1, 2024) — Multiple stakes winner Grand Slam Smile is the lone California-bred entered in Sunday’s $100,000 Grade III Las Virgenes Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.
A five furlong stakes winner versus open company in her second start here last June, trainer Steve Specht’s Grand Slam Smile has proven to be an ultra-tough customer on dirt, synthetic and most recently, routing on turf, as she’s competed exclusively in stakes company in her last five starts—winning three.
Bred in California by her owners, Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams, Grand Slam Smile is based at Golden Gate Fields and she comes off the biggest win of her career, a 2 ½ length score in Santa Anita’s Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks at one mile on turf Jan. 13.
On the lead turning for home under regular rider Frank Alvarado, Grand Slam Smile was tackled from all sides but regrouped and opened up late in a performance not often seen on grass. A first-out maiden winner going 4 ½ lengths on synthetic Tapeta at Golden Gate May 14, Grand Slam Smile will be trying two turns on dirt for the first time, but should get a good stalking trip with the top two likely showing the way to the top of the lane.
By Smiling Tiger out of the Grand Slam mare Royal Grand Slam, Grand Slam Smile has four wins from six overall starts and although she’ll get a big test for class, rates a solid upset chance with the biggest bankroll of $329,900.