BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-breds Smile Po and Sweet Sash will each attempt to upset Thursday’s Wait a While at Gulfstream Park, the opening day feature of the track’s 2024-25 Championship Meet. Set for 2-year-old fillies at seven-and-a-half furlongs on the turf, the $115,000 Wait a While has attracted 13 entries, including one on the also-eligible list.
Smile Po has been listed at 15-1 on the morning line while Sweet Sash in 20-1 in the program. However, both fillies exit winning performances with Smile Po taking two out of her three career starts—all on the Gulfstream Park synthetic course.
Trained by David Fawkes for Brazil Stables LLC, Smile Po won at first asking by three lengths when facing maiden special weight fillies going five-and-a-half furlongs in August. In her first race against winners, the bay daughter of Karakontie (Jpn) was second to Hello Hello Hello going a mile-and-70-yards in a nonwinners of two, $75,000 optional claiming in October but came back to win in her last race on Nov. 3 when facing first condition, $75,000 optional claiming fillies going eight-and-half furlongs.
“We’ve been wanting to run her on the grass, to be honest. The cutback in distance does not bother me at all. She’ll be forwardly placed and she’s already gone two turns,” Fawkes said. “We’ve been dying to try her on it and now we’ll get our shot. I wouldn’t mind if it stayed on the Tapeta. She’s just got to get her pace. Pace makes the race. I think she looks live in there.”
Smile Po is out of Grin, by Flatter and was bred in Florida by Four Horsemen’s Ranch. An earner of $88,180 in her three races, Smile Po was a $35,000 purchase by Nick Esler as agent at last year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale where she was consigned by Abbie Road Farm.
Miguel Vasquez will ride Smile Po from post eight.
Trained and bred by Rohan Crichton, Sweet Sash now races for owner Dennis Smith and is another making her first start on turf after racing exclusively on the Gulfstream all-weather course.
The bay daughter of Tapiture exits a two-length victory going five furlongs against maiden special weight fillies on Sept. 14 after finishing second in her debut in August.
Sweet Sash is out of Meant Tobe Mine, by Kantharos and has earned $50,400 in her two starts. She has post 10 and jockey Jason Huayas.
The 9-5 morning favorite is Civetta, a second-place finisher in the Grade 2 Matron won by Abientot in her last race on the turf at Aqueduct on Oct. 6.
Trained by Brendan Walsh, the Godolphin homebred won a maiden special weight at first asking on the turf at Ellis Park in August before finishing fourth after a difficult trip in the $998,000 Untapable won by Kilwin at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 8.
An earner of $124,535 in her three career starts, Civetta is out of Sentiero Italia, by Medaglia d’Oro.
Walsh has given the riding assignment on Civetta to Irad Ortiz Jr. and they have post two.
Also set for the Wait a While are Obliging with jockey David Egan, Winning Streep and rider Joe Bravo, Paco Lopez will be aboard Sail Theseven Seas, Edwin Gonzalez has the call on Brutally Honest, It’s Witchcraft will have Emisael Jaramillo in the irons, Bellavinino and jockey Drayden Van Dyke, Ramsey Pond will carry Edgard Zayas, Lemonpeppasteppa will have Luca Panici in the saddle and Jorge Ruiz is named on Smart Union. Hello Hello Hello is on the also-eligible list.
