HER SMILE HIGH-WEIGHT FOR HURRICANE BERTIE

Her Smile, third in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) when last seen, will make her season debut for her new connections Feb. 19 in the $150,000 Hurricane Bertie (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park.

Purchased for $1 million from the Denali Stud consignment after the Breeders’ Cup at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall 2011 mixed sale by Frank Stronach, Her Smile will begin her 4-year-old season as the 123-pound high weight in the 6 1/2-furlong Hurricane Bertie. A field of seven was drawn, including recent restricted stakes winner R Holiday Mood, who is trained by the meet’s runaway leader Todd Pletcher.

Pletcher used to train likely favorite Her Smile for Bobby Flay. Her Smile is now in the barn of Chad Brown.

A daughter of Include, Her Smile was purchased privately by Flay in April after she finished second in the Comely (gr. III) at Aqueduct. She went on to win just once for him, but it was a big one, as she scored the grade I Prioress Stakes at Belmont. The filly was beaten just 1 1/4 lengths in the BC Filly & Mare Sprint after a less than ideal trip.

Brown has secured leading rider Javier Castellano to ride Her Smile, who was bred in Virginia by William Backer.

“She’s trained great,” said Brown. “I’m really looking forward to running her. I think we’ll keep her in one-turn races this year.”

$150,000 Hurricane Bertie (gr. III, Race 10, 4:45 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 4 & Up, 6 1/2 Furlongs
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Pica Slew (FL), L Contreras, 117, B A Lynch 
2. Belle of the Hall (FL), E Trujillo, 117, T Albertrani 
3. R Holiday Mood (FL), J R Velazquez, 117, T A Pletcher 
4. Strike the Moon (KY), E S Prado, 117, M J Trombetta 
5. Funny Sunny (KY), K J Desormeaux, 117, R B Hess Jr. 
6. Ms Vanenzza (KY), R Maragh, 117, J C Vazquez 
7. Her Smile (VA), J Castellano, 123, C C Brown