Top sprinter Smiling Tiger sires first winner

Multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Smiling Tiger got off the mark as a freshman sire Saturday when Jacks Masterpiece wired the 8TH race at Oak Tree at Pleasanton.

Dispatched as the 9-5 favorite in the maiden special weight, the William Morey firster put away his pace foe after a quarter in :22.24 and opened up through a half in :46.12. Jacks Masterpiece, who crossed the wire 4 1/2 lengths clear, completed five fast-track furlongs in :58.47 beneath Juan Hernandez. Out of the stakes-winning Candi's Gold mare Marty's Zee, the California-bred races for breeder Martin Bach, Lynn Gitomer, and Daniel Weiner.

Smiling Tiger displayed blazing speed and tenacity throughout his racing career. Trained by Jeff Bonde, the son of Hold That Tiger won or placed in a total of 18 stakes. His signature wins came in the 2010 Bing Crosby (G1) and Ancient Title (G1) as a three-year-old, and the 2011 Triple Bend (G1), San Carlos (G2) and Count Fleet (G3). Twice third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), Smiling Tiger also placed in such events as the Malibu (G1), Pat O'Brien (G1), Bing Crosby (as the defending champion), and Del Mar Futurity (G1). He went out on a high note in the 2012 Vernon O. Underwood (G3) at Hollywood, ultimately retiring with a record of 23-9-2-8, $1,480,704.

In 2013, Smiling Tiger's close relative She's a Tiger earned an Eclipse Award as champion two-year-old filly. They were produced by the stakes-winning Cahill Road mare Shandra Smiles, the result of matings with Storm Cat sons Hold That Tiger and Tale of the Cat, respectively. Both Smiling Tiger and She's a Tiger were bred in Kentucky by Dr. Rodney Orr.

The 10-year-old Smiling Tiger stands at Harris Farms near Coalinga, California, for $4,000, stands and nurses.