Smiling Tiger to receive class relief in Palos Verdes

Smiling Tiger will seek to get back to his winnings ways in the Palos Verdes (Benoit Photos) Winner of the Ancient Title (G1) and Bing Crosby (G1) over synthetic tracks, SMILING TIGER (Hold That Tiger) acquitted himself quite nicely when moving to dirt for his last two starts, the Malibu S. (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), recording runner-up and third-place finishes, respectively, against top-class competition. The four-year-old will drop into a much easier spot Saturday in the $150,000 Palos Verdes S. (G2) at Santa Anita. It took a record-setting performance to beat him last time, as Twirling Candy (Candy Ride [Arg]) shaved Spectacular’s Bid’s seven-furlong mark when capturing the Malibu in 1:19.70, and Smiling Tiger also ran faster than the legendary Hall of Famer, falling only a nose short after an exciting stretch battle. The Jeff Bonde-trained colt missed by only 1 3/4 lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint after bobbling at the start, and the speedster has posted exceptional BRIS Speed ratings of 106 and 105 in his last outings. Regular rider Russell Baze will retain the mount aboard Smiling Tiger, who should be difficult to catch from his rail post.

Six runners will line up against the heavy favorite in the six-furlong event,
and VENTANA (Toccet) owns the best credentials. Winner of the Potrero Grande H.
(G2) two starts back, the five-year-old also finished a half-length second over
the Pro-Ride in the 2010 Palos Verdes. He hasn’t started since a fourth in the
Churchill Downs S. (G2) last May, but Ventana is conditioned by Bob Baffert, who
is winning at a sizzling 43 percent clip this meet (17-for-39), with four stakes
tallies to his credit. Rafael Bejarano will guide the stalker.

HUNCH (Lion Heart) will return to stakes company for John Sadler. Sidelined
11 months following a fifth in the 2009 Malibu S. (G1), the lightly-raced horse
rediscovered the winner’s circle in his second start back from the layoff,
posting a 2 1/2-length allowance/optional-claiming victory at Hollywood Park
that netted him a 100 BRIS Speed rating. The five-year-old will pick up the
services of Rafael Bejarano. Stakes winner GATO GO WIN (City Place), who exits
a non-threatening second in the Vernon Underwood (G3), rates as a logical
top-three candidate with Pat Valenzuela.

Santa Anita will also offer the $75,000
Sweet
Life S. down the hill for three-year-old fillies. CLONEYLASS (Ire) (Verglas
[Ire]), who finished third as the favorite in the Miesque S. (G3) most recently,
and last-out maiden winners ORANGEBLACKANDGOLD (Rock Hard Ten) and ADVANTAGE
PLAYER (Bernstein) are among the contenders in the 10-horse field.