Grand Slam Smile Digs Deep for Emotional Solana Beach Stakes Victory
They kissed her in the paddock and they roared for her at the wire. Grand Slam Smile, the Williams family’s homebred chestnut, delivered a gutsy front-running performance in Sunday’s Solana Beach Stakes at Del Mar, sealing the day with a half-length triumph that left trainer Sean McCarthy fighting back a grin and jockey William Antongeorgi III raising a victorious fist.
The four-year-old daughter of Smiling Tiger, heavily backed at 13/10, broke sharply and went straight to the front, ears pricked as she floated along the backstretch. When rival Sneaker loomed in the final furlong, the mare’s stubborn streak came to the fore. She refused to be passed, battling back to score in 1:34.92 for the mile on turf.
For Antongeorgi, the win carried a special resonance. “She broke running, and once she relaxed down the backside I knew she’d be super tough,” he said afterward, beaming. “Sneaker ran a hell of a race, but ‘Smile’—she’s all heart. I’m here to stay in Southern California, and winning one like this means the world.”
McCarthy, who saddled his first Del Mar stakes winner, echoed the sentiment. “She’s got that grit. If you come up to her, she’ll fight you off. That’s exactly what she showed today.”
Race Recap
Grand Slam Smile earned $85,500 from the $150,000 purse, boosting her career bankroll to $676,120. It was her eighth win from 14 starts, a record made more impressive by the fact she has never finished outside the top three.
Sneaker, representing R L Stables, chased hard to finish second, a length ahead of Cornelia Fort, who rounded out the placings for Greenway Racing Stables, Branch, Catone and partners.
The fractions told the tale of a steady but testing pace: :22.65, :46.77, 1:10.69, and 1:22.60 before the winning mile clocking of 1:34.92.
The Del Mar crowd, basking in sunshine by the sea, cheered warmly as the mare returned to the winner’s circle. She paid $4.60 to her backers.
First Stakes Win at Del Mar
Both Antongeorgi and McCarthy were tasting their first stakes victories at the seaside track—a breakthrough moment for horse and humans alike. Owners Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams of Boise, Idaho, were on hand to savor the success of their homebred star.
Racing pauses at Del Mar until Thursday, when the action resumes with an eight-race program kicking off at 2 p.m.
Conclusion
The Solana Beach Stakes at Del Mar may be restricted to California-breds, but Grand Slam Smile’s performance had all the hallmarks of class and courage. For her connections, it was more than just another win—it was the sweet reward of patience, partnership, and a filly who simply refuses to quit.
Complete race details available on Del Mar’s official site.
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