Klein & Lebherz’s SMILING TIGER (Hold That Tiger) garnered his first graded
stakes victory with a wire-to-wire score in Saturday’s $100,000
Laz
Barrera Memorial S. (G3) at Hollywood Park, withstanding the bid of Concord
Point (Tapit) in deep stretch for a half-length decision. Third to eventual
champion Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike) in both the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and
Best Pal S. (G2) last season, the Jeff Bonde-trained colt was making the second
start of his sophomore season following a close third in the grassy Harry Henson
S. on April 21.
Smiling Tiger and jockey Victor Espinoza quickly flashed to the front in the
seven-furlong test, establishing fractions of :22 4/5 and :44 3/5 on a short
lead as Concord Point chased in second, and edged away from his rival leaving
the far turn. The chestnut passed the six-furlong mark in 1:08 3/5 with a
one-length advantage, but Concord Point proved resilient, rallying in the final
furlong to provide a brief threat before coming up short. Smiling Tiger stopped
the teletimer over the Cushion Track in 1:21 1/5.
The near 3-1 second choice, the winner paid $7.60, $3.80 and $3.20. Concord
Point, the slight 5-2 favorite, was good for $3.60 and $3. It was 1 1/2 lengths
back to the late-running Domonation (Maria’s Mon), who yielded $4.80 at 9-1.
Macias (Purge), Skipshot (Skip Away), Big Man has a Sign (Petionville), Dixie
Trouper (Dixieland Band), Mr Tokyo (Freespool) and Hawaiian Springs (Stephen Got
Even) rounded out the order of finish. Working Capital (Bertrando) was
scratched.
The $1 exotics returned $13.90 (exacta), $87.90 (trifecta) and $376.90
(7-9-4-5 superfecta).
Bred in Kentucky by Lee McMillin and Ed Rudley, Smiling Tiger made two sales
appearances as a yearling. He RNA’ed for $32,000 at the 2008 Keeneland January
sale before selling for $40,000 at the Washington September sale. He’s out of
the stakes-winning Shandra Smiles (Cahill Road), who is also the dam of the
unraced juvenile colt Grinning Gang (Posse); a yearling filly by Pure Prize; and
a 2010 colt by Orientate. The 12-year-old mare is a half-sister to Grade 3
runner-up Traci Girl (Quiet American) and this is also the female family of 1986
Carter H. (G2) winner Love That Mac (Great Above).
Smiling Tiger opened his racing career with a pair of impressive performance
at Golden Gate Fields, winning his career debut by six lengths and the Lost in
the Fog S. by eight lengths, and went to the sidelines following his third in
the aforementioned Del Mar Futurity in early September. He’s now earned $183,864
from a 6-3-0-3 line.