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2025 Betty Grable Stakes Results

Jockey William Antongeorgi III celebrates aboard Grand Slam Smile after winning the Betty Grable Stakes.

The feature race on the first Sunday of the 2025 Bing Crosby fall meeting at Del Mar was the $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes, a 7 furlong main track sprint for California-bred or sired older fillies and mares. Conditions were typical for early November, with the feature race conducted under sunny skies with a post time temperature of 61 degrees for the 2,828 fans in attendance. A field of 7 went to post with Solana Beach Stakes winner Grand Slam Smile sent

Grand Slam Smile rallies down the center

off as the 7-10 favorite off her second place finish in the California Distaff Handicap at Santa Anita. In to challenge him included 4-1 second choice Sneaker, winner of the California Distaff Handicap, and 7-1 third choice Tina Turner, undefeated in 2 starts both in allowance company.

Jockey Hector Berrios sent 11-1 Issa Court to the lead out of the chute through fractions of 22.45 and 45.41. while pressed by Grand Slam Smile and stalked by 8-1 fourth choice No Cap. Into the lane Issa Court continued to lead through 3/4 in 1:09.86 but Grand Slam Smile, confidently ridden by William Antongeorgi III, came out 4 wide for room and rallied to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:22.34. It was a long 4 3/4 lengths back to No Cap third.

Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 4 Grand Slam Smile Antongeorgi 3.40 2.40 2.10 7 Issa Court Berrios 7.20 3.80 2 No Cap Rispoli 4.00 Winning Time: 1:22.34 $1 Exacta 4-7 10.60 $2 Quinella 1-7 16.00 $0.50 Trifecta 4-7-2 30.50 $0.10 Superfecta 4-7-2-1 24.26

Full results chart

Left: Grand Slam Smile in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Sean McCarthy said, "I told Billy just mind the half mile. I don't care if you're in front or you're fifth, just give me a nice half mile pace and he did. She was on the backstretch cruising along nice, her ears twitching back and forth. They get to about the 3/8's pole and the two of them are starting to shake loose and I could tell Billy wasn't asking yet and then they got to the quarter pole and Billy started getting after Issa Court not letting her get away. This filly is just so game."

Right: Grand Slam Smile in the paddock before the race. Winning jockey William Antongeorgi III said, "She bottles that energy up and when the gates open up she gives it all. She is pretty push button, you just got to contain it and wait for the right move, whether that's on the lead or right of it. Sean knew I was getting to know her in the mornings, she's a little bit of a quirky filly, on her toes. (When she gets like that) she gets game ready. He entrusted me with her, to get to know her and it went on from there. And now, I feel like we have a good team together. I thought the race was playing into our hand today, we had speed, and to be honest I thought we were going to be on the lead but (Issa Court) pressed us up to the lead. She's a versatile filly, on the lead or off of it, on dirt or off. She is such a classy horse."

Left: Second place finisher Issa Court in the paddock before the race. The Bob Hess Jr. trainee improved her record to 6 wins, 4 seconds, and 5 thirds in 26 starts, earning $308,768 for owners Howard and Janet Siegel.

Right: Third place finisher No Cap in the post parade. The Brian Koriner trainee improved her record to 3 wins, 4 seconds, and 4 thirds in 16 starts, earning $192,200 for owner Jay Em Ess Stable.

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