Favorite Grand Slam Smile takes them all the way for 10th stakes win in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares going one mile on turf Saturday at Santa Anita

FAVORITE GRAND SLAM SMILE TAKES THEM ALL THE WAY FOR 10th STAKES WIN IN THE FRAN’S VALENTINE STAKES FOR CALIFORNIA-BRED FILLIES AND MARES GOING ONE MILE ON TURF SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (May 23, 2026)—The ever-consistent mare Grand Slam Smile collected her 10th stakes win on Saturday when rolling to a front-running victory in the $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares going one mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Ridden by William Antongeorgi III, favorite Grand Slam Smile (1-2) outfooted several other rivals soon after the start to grab the lead. She proceeded to set comfortable fractions of 24.03, 48.25 and 1:12.66 for six furlongs before having enough left in reserve late to hold off a late charge from Take Another Card (5-1) by a half-length. Quick Kate, a 43-1 longshot ridden by Kazushi Kimura, finished another neck back in third.

Grand Slam Smile, trained by Sean McCarthy, won in a time of 1:35.94.

Grand Slam Smile is a homebred for owners Larry D. Williams and Marianne Williams. She improved to 21: 12-6-3 with more than $980,000 in earnings. In three previous starts this year, the 6-year-old mare by Smiling Tiger won the Irish O’Brien Stakes sprinting on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course and was third in both the GII Buena Vista and GIII Royal Heroine at one mile on turf.

Grand Slam Smile paid $3.00, $2.10 and $2.10. Take Another Card, with Antonio Fresu aboard for trainer Simon Callaghan, returned $3.60 and $2.40. Quick Kate, ridden by Kazushi Kimura for trainer Craig Lewis, paid $6.80.

FRAN'S VALENTINE STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

WILLIAM ANTONGEORGI III, GRAND SLAM SMILE, WINNER: “She was really relaxed today warming up. She broke great and was really relaxed out on the lead. I knew she would be. I was super confident in her. I knew she had a lot more to give when we turned for home. When the others came to her on the turn, she dug in. I was confident she would hold her lead.”

TRAINER QUOTES

SEAN MCCARTHY, GRAND SLAM SMILE, WINNER: “She just ran a hell of a race. That was a good field and they made a run at her. She’s got a heart as big as her body. She just laid it down and wouldn’t let them by. I can’t be more proud of her. I thank the Williams’ and Billy for coming out and riding her, Sandy who takes care of the horses in Northern California and always Steve Specht. I’m sure he’s watching. It’s been a privilege to have her. “She’s great. She’s a totally professional racehorse. She doesn’t like you fooling with her too much, but she likes attention. When it’s her time, it is her time leave her alone. She will let you know when you can get inside with her. If she runs up to the front of the stall, she wants attention and we give it to her. She trains like a great horse and is just ultra consistent. I can’t be more proud of her. I think we are about $20,000 short of $1M right now so hopefully we can knock that out this summer I’m hoping. She put in a hell of a race today and I’m proud of her.”

NOTES: The winning owner and breeders are Mr. And Mrs. Larry D. Williams.