Smile Sprint Stakes
# Smile Sprint Stakes

The Smile Sprint Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three and older over a distance of six furlongs on the dirt run annually in early July at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

## History

The race has its origins in what is considered the inaugural running on 8 September 1984 as the Miami Beach Handicap. However, an event with that name was held in 1973 and 1974 but was a two year old race over a distance of a 1+1⁄16 mile.

The following year the event was run over a slightly longer distance of 7 furlongs. In 1989 the event was run over 6 furlongs and in 1992 the event was run over a distance of a 6+1⁄2 furlongs.

In 1993 the event was renamed to the Miami Beach Sprint Handicap.

In 1999 the event was renamed to the Smile Sprint Handicap 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.

In 2003, the event was upgraded to Grade III status by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and carried a $500,000 purse. Two years later the event was upgraded again to Grade II.

At times the event was part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, with the winner automatically qualifying for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

In 2014 the event was not held and after negotiations between Calder Race Track and Gulfstream Park the event was moved to Gulfstream Park.

The event was modified to the Smile Sprint Stakes for the 2015 running when the conditions of the event were changed from handicap to stakes allowance.

In 2017 the event was downgraded back to Grade III.

Since 2021 the event has been an invitational event.

## Records

Speed record:

* 6 furlongs: – 1:08.82 Cool Arrow (2020)
* 7 furlongs: – 1:21.82 Constant Escort (1996)

Margins:

* 8+1⁄4 lengths – Shake You Down (2003)

Most wins:

* No horse has won this race more than once.

Most wins by a jockey:

* 3 – Emisael Jaramillo (2016, 2018, 2023)

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

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| At Gulfstream Park – Smile Sprint Stakes |||||||||||
| 2023 | Dean Delivers | 4 | Emisael Jaramillo | Michael Yates | Stonehedge | 6 furlongs | 1:09.28 | $125,000 | III | |
| 2022 | Willie Boi | 4 | Chantal Sutherland | Jorge Delgado | Lea Farms | 6 furlongs | 1:09.71 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2021 | Miles Ahead | 4 | Victor Espinoza | Edward Pleza Jr. | David Melin, Leon Ellman, Laurie Pleza | 6 furlongs | 1:09.61 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2020 | Cool Arrow | 6 | Leonel Reyes | Teresa M. Pompay | My Purple Haze Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:08.82 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2019 | Diamond Oops | 4 | Julien R. Leparoux | Patrick L. Biancone | Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne & Patrick L. Biancone | 6 furlongs | 1:09.92 | $250,000 | III | |
| 2018 | X Y Jet | 6 | Emisael Jaramillo | Jorge Navarro | Rockingham Ranch & Gelfenstein Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:09.61 | $272,500 | III | |
| 2017 | Imperial Hint | 4 | Javier Castellano | Luis Carvajal Jr. | Raymond Mamone | 6 furlongs | 1:09.23 | $250,000 | III | |
| 2016 | Delta Bluesman | 6 | Emisael Jaramillo | Jorge Navarro | Monster Racing Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:08.94 | $250,000 | II | |
| 2015 | Favorite Tale | 4 | Edgard J. Zayas | Guadalupe Preciado | PJG Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:08.85 | $250,000 | II | |
| 2014 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| At Calder Racetrack – Smile Sprint Handicap |||||||||||
| 2013 | Bahamian Squall | 4 | Luis Saez | David Fawkes | Donald R. Dizney | 6 furlongs | 1:10.21 | $350,000 | II | |
| 2012 | Gantry | 5 | Richard E. Eramia | Ron Faucheux | Brittlyn Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:10.52 | $400,000 | II | |
| 2011 | Giant Ryan | 5 | Cornelio Velasquez | Bisnath Parboo | Shivananda Parbhoo | 6 furlongs | 1:11.34 | $350,000 | II | |
| 2010 | Big Drama | 4 | Eibar Coa | David Fawkes | Harold L. Queen | 6 furlongs | 1:10.93 | $350,000 | II | |
| 2009 | Eaton's Gift | 4 | Jose Lezcano | Dale L. Romans | Zayat Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:11.25 | $350,000 | II | |
| 2008 | Benny the Bull | 5 | Edgar S. Prado | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | IEAH Stables, Greg James & Andrew I. Cohen | 6 furlongs | 1:11.41 | $400,000 | II | |
| 2007 | Mach Ride | 4 | Elvis Trujillo | Steven W. Standridge | Rustlewood Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:09.89 | $500,000 | II | |
| 2006 | Nightmare Affair | 5 | Jeffrey Sanchez | Manuel J. Azpurua | Timber Side Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:10.56 | $500,000 | II | |
| 2005 | Woke Up Dreamin | 5 | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 6 furlongs | 1:09.80 | $500,000 | II | |
| 2004 | Champali | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Gregory D. Foley | Lloyd Madison Farms, IV | 6 furlongs | 1:10.14 | $500,000 | III | |
| 2003 | Shake You Down | 5 | Michael J. Luzzi | Scott A. Lake | Robert L. Cole Jr. | 6 furlongs | 1:10.03 | $500,000 | III | |
| 2002 | Orientate | 4 | Mike E. Smith | D. Wayne Lukas | Bob & Beverly Lewis | 6 furlongs | 1:09.98 | $400,000 | Listed | |
| 2001 | Fappie's Notebook | 4 | Jorge F. Chavez | Emanuel Tortora | Irving & Marjorie Cowan | 6 furlongs | 1:09.89 | $200,000 | Listed | |
| 2000 | Forty One Carats | 4 | Javier Castellano | David Fawkes | New New New Stable & Buckingham Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:08.95 | $300,000 | Listed | |
| 1999 | Silver Season | 3 | Eibar Coa | Mohammed Moubarak | Buckram Oak Farm (Mahmoud Fustok) | 6 furlongs | 1:10.03 | $300,000 | Listed | |
| Miami Beach Sprint Handicap |||||||||||
| 1998 | Heckofaralph | 5 | Wigberto S. Ramos | William J. Cesare | Elizabeth A. & Ralph C. Sessa | 6 furlongs | 1:11.48 | $300,000 | Listed | |
| 1997 | ƒ Vivace | 4 | Randy Romero | Cam Gambolati | Post Oak Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:10.65 | $250,000 | Listed | |
| 1996 | Constant Escort | 4 | Eduardo O. Nunez | Ralph Ziadie | Maxwell Breeders | 7 furlongs | 1:21.82 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 1995 | Request a Star | 4 | Abdiel Toribio | William P. White | Paul O'Toole | 7 furlongs | 1:23.69 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 1994 | Exclusive Praline | 3 | Wigberto S. Ramos | Steve Towne | Frank Calabrese | 7 furlongs | 1:22.29 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| Miami Beach Handicap |||||||||||
| 1993 | Song of Ambition | 4 | Ricardo D. Lopez | Ernest Mello | Harold Queen | 7 furlongs | 1:22.52 | $75,000 | Listed | |
| 1992 | My Luck Runs North | 3 | Ricardo D. Lopez | Angel M. Medina | Melvin A. Benitez | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:17.57 | $75,000 | Listed | |
| 1991 | Greg At Bat | 6 | Jacinto Vasquez | Ralph Ziadie | Adlam Racing Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:24.26 | $75,000 | Listed | |
| 1990 | Groomstick | 4 | Pedro A. Rodriguez | Luis Olivares | Cobbleview Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:24.20 | $81,950 | | |
| 1989 | Glitterman | 4 | Walter Guerra | Gregory E. Sanders | O.H. Frisbia & Greg Sanders | 6 furlongs | 1:10.40 | $54,950 | | |
| 1988 | Position Leader | 3 | Douglas Valiente | Jose A. Mendez | Sol Garazi & Michel Besso | 7 furlongs | 1:24.80 | $82,725 | | |
| 1987 | Princely Lad | 4 | Benjamin Green | Leon W. Patman | Ace of Hearts Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:23.80 | $54,300 | | |
| 1986 | Jeblar | 4 | Jose A. Velez Jr. | Frank Gomez | Michael H. Sherman | 7 furlongs | 1:24.80 | $54,650 | | |
| 1985 | Opening Lead | 5 | Julio Molina Pezua | Manuel J. Azpurua | Brad D. Gay | 7 furlongs | 1:24.00 | $54,500 | | |
| 1984 | I Really Will | 4 | Gene St. Leon | Frank Gomez | Frances A. Genter | 6 furlongs | 1:12.00 | $56,400 | | |

Notes:

ƒ Filly or Mare

