From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 13, 2024) – After dumping jockey Frank Alvarado in the paddock, favored Grand Slam Smile was all business on the racetrack, shaking off challenges from Recalcitrant and Asado Fries to win Saturday’s $200,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks at Santa Anita.
Grand Slam Smile is by Smiling Tiger, out of the prolific Grand Slam mare Royal Grand Slam, was bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams and is trained by Steve Specht. She has four wins in six starts, earnings of $329,900 and was coming off a second in the Nov. 25 Golden Gate Debutante.
“I just want to say that to win this race at this point in time for Mr. and Mrs. Williams is very special,” said Specht. “They’ve been with me a long time and with everything going on, to have a filly with this much talent…It’s really special.”
Grand Slam Smile ran the mile on turf in 1:36.59 and won by 2 ¼ lengths at odds of 2-1. Asada Fries was second and Sushi Sticks was third in the field of eight.
“Steve (Specht) gave me a leg up and she jumped a little bit,” said Alvarado. “I just landed on my butt and back, but there was no way I could take off. First time on the grass, we didn’t know if she would like it, she definitely liked it. The one thing about me and Steve, is we don’t like to be wide at the first turn. He told me to save ground. I saved ground right away, I just followed Frankie Dettori (Recalcitrant), a great rider on the grass.”
Breaking sharply from her outside post, Grand Slam Smile immediately engaged longshot Recalcitrant and Frankie Dettori into and around the first turn. Heading up the backside, Grand Slam Smile began to inch clear heading to the three-furlong marker, but Recalcitrant was back on terms at the quarter pole.
Turning for home, it looked as though Asada Fries, three-deep under Juan Hernandez, had fresh legs and dead aim, but Grand Slam Smile was far from done and re-rallied for a huge victory.
The narrow second choice at 2-1 with Juan Hernandez, Asada Fries paid $3.40 and $2.40 while finishing a half length better than deep closer Sushi Sticks.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Sushi Sticks was just up for third money by a nose over Prancingthruparis and paid $2.80 to show.
Fractions on the Oaks were 22.72, 47.00, 1:11.61 and 1:24.12.