Smile Sprint Handicap
| Grade II race | |
| Location |
Gulfstream Park Hallandale, Florida, United States (Moved in 2015 from Calder Race Course to Gulfstream.) |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1984 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www.gulfstreampark.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 6 furlongs |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old & up |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $250,000 (2015) |
The Smile Sprint Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race once held annually since 1999 at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida but now run at Gulfstream Park after negotiations between the two tracks.[1] The Grade II sprint is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race six furlongs on the dirt.
Part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, the winner of the 2009 Smile Sprint Handicap automatically qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.[2]
Since inception, the race has been contested at various distances:
- 6 F : 1984, 1997–present
- 6.5 F : 1989, 1992
- 7 F : 1985-1988, 1990–1991, 1993–1996
The race was inaugurated in 1984 as the Miami Beach Handicap and was run under that name until 1993 when it was relabeled as the Miami Beach Sprint Handicap. In 1999 it was given its current name to honor Frances A. Genter Stable's Florida-bred colt, Smile. As a two-year-old in 1984, Smile became the first horse to win all three races in the Florida Stallion Stakes series at Calder Race Course. He went on to win the 1986 Breeders' Cup Sprint and was voted that year's American Champion Sprint Horse.
Records
Speed record: (at current distance of 6 furlongs)
- 1:08.85 - Favorite Tale (2015)
Most wins:
- No horse has won this race more than once.
Most wins by a jockey:
- 2 - Ricardo Lopez (1992, 1993)
- 2 - Wigberto Ramos (1994, 1998)
- 2 - Mike Smith (2002, 2005)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 - David Fawkes (2000, 2010, 2013)
Most wins by an owner:
- No owner has won this race more than once.
Winners of the Smile Sprint Handicap since 1984
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Distance |
Time | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Favorite Tale | 4 | Edgard J. Zayas | Guadalupe Preciado | PJG Stable | 6 fur. | 1:08.85 | II |
| 2014 | NO RACE | 6 fur. | II | |||||
| 2013 | Bahamian Squall | 4 | Luis Saez | David Fawkes | Donald R. Dizney | 6 fur. | 1:10.21 | II |
| 2012 | Gantry | 5 | Richard E. Eramia | Ron Faucheux | Brittlyn Stable | 6 fur. | 1:10.52 | II |
| 2011 | Giant Ryan | 5 | Cornelio Velasquez | Bisnath Parboo | Shivananda Parbhoo | 6 fur. | 1:11.34 | II |
| 2010 | Big Drama | 4 | Eibar Coa | David Fawkes | Harold L. Queen | 6 fur. | 1:10.93 | II |
| 2009 | Eaton's Gift | 4 | Jose Lezcano | Dale Romans | Zayat Stables | 6 fur. | 1:11.25 | II |
| 2008 | Benny the Bull | 5 | Edgar Prado | Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. | IEAH Stables et al. | 6 fur. | 1:11.41 | II |
| 2007 | Mach Ride | 4 | Elvis Trujillo | Steve Standridge | Rustlewood Farm, Inc. | 6 fur. | 1:09.89 | II |
| 2006 | Nightmare Affair | 5 | Jeffrey Sanchez | Manuel Azpurua | Timber Side Stable | 6 fur. | 1:10.56 | II |
| 2005 | Woke Up Dreamin | 5 | Mike Smith | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 6 fur. | 1:09.80 | II |
| 2004 | Champali | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Gregory Foley | Lloyd Madison Farms, IV LLC | 6 fur. | 1:10.14 | III |
| 2003 | Shake You Down | 5 | Mike Luzzi | Scott A. Lake | Robert L. Cole, Jr. | 6 fur. | 1:10.03 | III |
| 2002 | Orientate | 4 | Mike Smith | D. Wayne Lukas | Bob & Beverly Lewis | 6 fur. | 1:09.98 | |
| 2001 | Fappie's Notebook | 4 | Jorge Chavez | Emanuel Tortora | Irving & Marjorie Cowan | 6 fur. | 1:09.89 | |
| 2000 | Forty One Carats | 4 | Javier Castellano | David Fawkes | New, New, New/Buckingham Stables | 6 fur. | 1:08.95 | |
| 1999 | Silver Season | 3 | Eibar Coa | Mohammed Moubarak | Buckram Oak Farm | 6 fur. | 1:10.03 | |
| 1998 | Heckofaralph | 5 | Wigberto Ramos | William Cesare | Betty & Ralph Sessa | 6 fur. | 1:11.48 | |
| 1997 | Vivace | 4 | Randy Romero | Cam M. Gambolati | Post Oak Farm | 6 fur. | 1:10.65 | |
| 1996 | Constant Escort | 4 | Eduardo Nunez | Ralph Ziadie | Maxwell Breeders | 7 fur. | 1:21.82 | |
| 1995 | Request A Star | 4 | Abdiel Toribio | William White | P. O'Toole | 7 fur. | 1:23.69 | |
| 1994 | Exclusive Praline | 3 | Wigberto Ramos | Steve Towne | Frank Calabrese | 7 fur. | 1:22.20 | |
| 1993 | Song of Ambition | 4 | Ricardo Lopez | Ernest Mello | Harold Queen | 7 fur. | 1:22.40 | |
| 1992 | My Luck Runs North | 3 | Ricardo Lopez | Angel M. Medina | M. A. Benitez | 6.5 fur. | 1:17.40 | |
| 1991 | Greg At Bat | 6 | Jacinto Vasquez | Ralph Ziadie | Adlam Racing Stable, Inc. | 7 fur. | 1:24.20 | |
| 1990 | Groomstick | 4 | Pedro Rodriguez | Luis Olivares | Cobbleview Stable | 7 fur. | 1:24.20 | |
| 1989 | Glitterman | 4 | Walter Guerra | Greg Sanders | O.H. Frisbia & Greg Sanders | 6 fur. | 1:10.40 | |
| 1988 | Position Leader | 3 | Douglas Valiente | Jose Mendez | Sol Garazi & Michel Besso | 7 fur. | 1:24.80 | |
| 1987 | Princely Lad | 4 | Benjamin Green | Leon Patman | Ace of Hearts Stable, Inc. | 7 fur. | 1:23.80 | |
| 1986 | Jeblar | 4 | Jose Velez, Jr. | Frank Gomez | M. H. Sherman | 7 fur. | 1:24.80 | |
| 1985 | Opening Lead | 5 | Julio Pezua | Manuel Azpurua | Brad D. Gay | 7 fur. | 1:24.00 | |
| 1984 | I Really Will | 4 | Gene St. Leon | Frank Gomez | Frances A. Genter | 6 fur. | 1:12.00 | |