Northwest Hoof Prints

    Alan Klein and Philip Lebherz’s top national sprinter Smiling Tiger set the pace and finished the $250,000 Triple Bend Handicap (G1) with a powerful kick to score a 3 1/4-length victory in his third Grade 1 victory. The four-year-old son of Hold That Tiger, who was ridden by Joel Rosario, earned a 107 BRIS Speed Rating for his 1:21.22 victory in the seven-furlong Hollywood Park stakes and in doing so became a millionaire.
     “We got a good trip today and the horse got to express himself,” said winning trainer Jeff Bonde. “This horse has the ability to go quick and still rally. He’s got a very long stride; he’s a big, long stretchy horse. He’s not a typical sprinter type to look at. But he’s very athletic and he has the heart of a warrior.”
     On April 14 odds-on favorite Smiling Tiger made a big move to win the $200,00 Count Fleet Handicap (G3) by 2 /12 easy lengths, and as the Oaklawn Park chart shows he “was full of late run to win going away with something left.” The colt also earned a 107 BRIS Speed Rating for this effort.
     “Prior to the race, we were remarking how much he had improved and how composed he was,” said Bonde. “He’s always been a Type-A personality and keyed up, but he was probably the best he’s ever been today. Very professional . . .”
     The $40,000 2008 WTBOA Summer Yearling Sale graduate was bred in Kentucky by Dr. Rodney Orr out of his stakes-winning Cahill Road mare Shandra Smiles. Consigned to the sale by Halvorson Bloodstock Services LLC, Smiling Tiger has now won six graded stakes races. In his 17 starts, Smiling Tiger has a record of 9-2-6, including 13 graded stakes placements. His $1,199,353 earnings place him at the top of all horses which have gone through a WTBOA sales ring.

Slew the Man Victorious in Alamedan Handicap
Photos by Vassar Photography