Sibelius, Classic Runner returns from Dubai in Smile Sprint

Jun Park and Delia Nash’s Sibelius will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing Dubai adventure in Saturday’s $120,000 Smile Sprint, and trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer could not think of a better place than Gulfstream Park for the 6-year-old gelding to return to action.

Sibelius will look to maintain his unblemished record at Gulfstream in Saturday’s six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up on the 10-race program. The son of Not This Time has two starts at Gulfstream and is coming off back-to-back wins in the Mr. Prospector (G3).

“I think it’s a positive that he’s run two races at Gulfstream and won two,” O’Dwyer said. “But we don’t think it’s going to be easy. There are some very good horses in the race.”

Sibelius won the six-furlong Mr. Prospector by 2½ lengths on December 31, 2022, before winning the six-furlong Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) by two lengths over Switzerland.

This year, after winning by four lengths in the Mr. Prospector contest, O’Dwyer’s trainee failed to defend his Dubai Golden Shaheen title as he weakened late on and finished 11th.

“Ryan Moore came back after the race and said the outside horse was on him the whole race and he couldn’t find his rhythm,” O’Dwyer said. “So I think that’s a good reason.”

Sibelius ran five workouts at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, to prepare for the Smile Sprint.

“He’s been training really well. He’s been physically and mentally fit,” O’Dwyer said.

Edwin Gonzalez is expected to ride Sibelius for the first time on Saturday, while regular rider Junior Alvarado will make his commitment at Aqueduct.

Tom Durant’s Run Classic is also set to return after finishing in the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Runhappy’s six-year-old son finished seventh in Meydan after being hit by traffic on the final stretch.

“We gave him time to recover from the trip,” said coach Jose D’Angelo. “His last two practices have been impressive. I know it’s a tough situation. Sibelius is running too. But he’s ready to run.”

Previously, Run Classic won the Gulfstream Park Sprint by 3 1/4 lengths in his first start after being transferred to D’Angelo.

Leonel Reyes is expected to make his Run Classic debut in the Smile Sprint.

Saffie Joseph Jr., the top trainer at the Royal Palm Meet, will be represented by Mish of C2 Racing Stable LLC, Swirvin of Bassett Stables, Ten Twenty Racing and Comedy Town of Saffie A Joseph at Smile.

Mish, a 7-year-old gelding by Field Commission, has not lost a third in his last 11 starts, including five wins.

“He’s very stable. He’s an old gelding. No matter what track you send him to, no matter where he goes, he gives it his all,” Joseph said. “He’s very, very stable, just a stubborn horse with a lot of drive in him.”

Swirvin, a four-year-old son of Girvin, finished last in the Gulfstream Park Sprint after a difficult start, returning from a three-month rest to win the optional allowance after being under pressure throughout the race.

“We really liked him in that race. We thought he had a good reason. We backed off and gave him a little time, and he came back and ran a great race in the after-hours race the other day,” Joseph said. “He’s back in the race. Hopefully, he can bring his ‘A’ game.”

Comedy Town, a 6-year-old gelding out of Speightstown, was awarded an optional claiming allowance after two races at $25,000.

Samy Camacho will play Mish; Edgard Zayas will play Swirvin; and Drayden Van Dyke will play Comedy Town.

Arindel’s Octane, who won the Razorback (G3) at Oaklawn on Feb. 24, joined Smile after a dominant 6 ¼-length victory in the Big Drama Handicap under the returning Emisael Jaramillo.

Mad Dog Racing Stable and Joseph Park’s Loco Abarrio, who finished third in the Gulfstream Park Sprint, join Smile after finishing second to Octane in the Big Drama. Miguel Vasquez is the rider.

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