Smiling Shirlee Rallies to Win Evening Jewel
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Smiling Shirlee wins the Evening Jewel Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Smiling Shirlee, who last year had a pair of runner-up stakes finishes, scored her first black-type win May 16 in the $152,500 Evening Jewel Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
The 3-year-old Smiling Tiger filly bested nine other sophomore fillies bred or sired in California with a four-wide rally down Santa Anita's home stretch under jockey Mike Smith. The victory followed a March 6 allowance win going a mile at Santa Anita.
"We had the extra time off, and she'd been training extremely well for this race," said Jeff Bonde, who trains Smiling Shirlee for owners Edward Brown Jr., Alan Klein, and Phillip Lebherz. "We were concerned with the rail (post), but Mike fit this filly like a glove, he really did. Like I say, she'd been training well and she rewarded us today."
Smiling Shirlee shortened up to six furlongs Saturday, and the 7-2 shot had Smith aboard for the first time. She chased inside while seventh early. Favored Bulletproof One showed the way up front with fractions of :21.53 and :45.08 through a half-mile.
Smith moved Smiling Shirlee, who was 3 1/4 lengths off the lead, to the four path turning for home. Bulletproof One weakened down the stretch, but Bella Vita, who had stalked in third, took command while three wide. Smiling Shirlee closed strong to pass Bella Vita and cross the wire a half-length in front.
The final time on the fast main track was 1:10.49.
"What a race she ran," Smith said. "I thought that if she ran back to her last race, she'd be hard to beat today. (Bella Vita) ran a big race, but my filly dug in and got the job done."
Bella Vita was second, a length in front of third-place Been Studying Her. Warren's Showtime was fourth.
The Evening Jewel was the third win in eight starts for Smiling Shirlee, who also has two seconds and a third. The dark bay or brown filly has earned $239,220.
Bred by Premier Thoroughbreds, Smiling Shirlee is the third foal and winner out of the Grand Slam mare Whobetterthanus. The mare produced another Smiling Tiger filly in 2018 and foaled a colt by the same stallion May 8. She also has a yearling colt by Danzing Candy.