The Smile Sprint Stakes is a Listed 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 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 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.

In 2024 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status.

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

Margins: 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 RefAt Gulfstream Park – Smile Sprint Stakes2024 Comedy Town4Drayden Van DykeSaffie A. Joseph, Jr.Ten Twenty Racing & Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.6 furlongs1:10.03$110,000 Listed2023Dean Delivers 4Emisael JaramilloMichael YatesStonehedge6 furlongs1:09.28$125,000III2022Willie Boi4Chantal SutherlandJorge DelgadoLea Farms6 furlongs1:09.71$150,000III2021Miles Ahead4Victor EspinozaEdward Pleza Jr.David Melin, Leon Ellman, Laurie Pleza6 furlongs1:09.61$200,000III2020Cool Arrow6Leonel ReyesTeresa M. PompayMy Purple Haze Stables6 furlongs1:08.82$100,000III2019Diamond Oops4Julien R. LeparouxPatrick L. BianconeDiamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne & Patrick L. Biancone6 furlongs1:09.92$250,000III2018X Y Jet6Emisael JaramilloJorge NavarroRockingham Ranch & Gelfenstein Farm6 furlongs1:09.61$272,500III2017Imperial Hint4Javier CastellanoLuis Carvajal Jr.Raymond Mamone6 furlongs1:09.23$250,000III2016Delta Bluesman6Emisael JaramilloJorge NavarroMonster Racing Stables6 furlongs1:08.94$250,000II2015Favorite Tale4Edgard J. ZayasGuadalupe PreciadoPJG Stable6 furlongs1:08.85$250,000II2014Race not heldAt Calder Racetrack – Smile Sprint Handicap2013Bahamian Squall4Luis SaezDavid FawkesDonald R. Dizney6 furlongs1:10.21$350,000II2012Gantry5Richard E. EramiaRon FaucheuxBrittlyn Stable6 furlongs1:10.52$400,000II2011Giant Ryan5Bisnath ParbooShivananda Parbhoo6 furlongs1:11.34$350,000II2010Big Drama4Eibar CoaDavid FawkesHarold L. Queen6 furlongs1:10.93$350,000II2009Eaton's Gift4Jose LezcanoDale L. RomansZayat Stables6 furlongs1:11.25$350,000II2008Benny the Bull5Edgar S. PradoRichard E. Dutrow Jr.IEAH Stables, Greg James & Andrew I. Cohen6 furlongs1:11.41$400,000II2007Mach Ride4Elvis TrujilloSteven W. StandridgeRustlewood Farm 6 furlongs1:09.89$500,000II2006Nightmare Affair5Jeffrey SanchezManuel J. AzpuruaTimber Side Stable6 furlongs1:10.56$500,000II2005Woke Up Dreamin5Mike E. SmithBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram6 furlongs1:09.80$500,000II2004Champali4Jerry D. BaileyGregory D. FoleyLloyd Madison Farms, IV 6 furlongs1:10.14$500,000III2003Shake You Down5Michael J. LuzziScott A. LakeRobert L. Cole Jr.6 furlongs1:10.03$500,000III2002Orientate4Mike E. SmithD. Wayne LukasBob & Beverly Lewis6 furlongs1:09.98$400,000 Listed 2001Fappie's Notebook4Jorge F. ChavezEmanuel Tortora Irving & Marjorie Cowan 6 furlongs1:09.89$200,000 Listed 2000Forty One Carats4Javier CastellanoDavid FawkesNew New New Stable & Buckingham Stables6 furlongs1:08.95$300,000 Listed 1999Silver Season3Eibar CoaBuckram Oak Farm (Mahmoud Fustok)6 furlongs1:10.03$300,000 Listed Miami Beach Sprint Handicap1998Heckofaralph5Wigberto S. RamosWilliam J. CesareElizabeth A. & Ralph C. Sessa6 furlongs1:11.48$300,000 Listed 1997ƒ Vivace4Randy RomeroCam GambolatiPost Oak Farm6 furlongs1:10.65$250,000 Listed 1996Constant Escort4Eduardo O. NunezRalph ZiadieMaxwell Breeders7 furlongs1:21.82$100,000 Listed 1995Request a Star4Abdiel ToribioWilliam P. WhitePaul O'Toole7 furlongs1:23.69$100,000 Listed 1994Exclusive Praline3Wigberto S. RamosSteve TowneFrank Calabrese7 furlongs1:22.29$100,000Listed Miami Beach Handicap1993Song of Ambition4Ricardo D. LopezErnest MelloHarold Queen7 furlongs1:22.52$75,000 Listed 19923Ricardo D. LopezAngel M. MedinaMelvin A. Benitez furlongs1:17.57$75,000 Listed 1991Greg At Bat6Jacinto VasquezRalph ZiadieAdlam Racing Stable 7 furlongs1:24.26$75,000Listed 1990Groomstick4Luis Olivares Cobbleview Stable7 furlongs1:24.20$81,950 1989Glitterman4Walter GuerraGregory E. SandersO.H. Frisbia & Greg Sanders6 furlongs1:10.40$54,950 1988Position Leader3Douglas ValienteJose A. MendezSol Garazi & Michel Besso7 furlongs1:24.80$82,725 1987Princely Lad4Benjamin GreenLeon W. PatmanAce of Hearts Stable 7 furlongs1:23.80$54,300 1986Jeblar4Jose A. Velez Jr.Frank GomezMichael H. Sherman7 furlongs1:24.80$54,650 1985Opening Lead5Julio Molina PezuaManuel J. AzpuruaBrad D. Gay7 furlongs1:24.00$54,500 1984I Really Will4Gene St. LeonFrank GomezFrances A. Genter6 furlongs1:12.00$56,400

Notes:

ƒ Filly or Mare

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References