It was an impressive juvenile winner for KARKONTIE on Friday when Smile Po made her debut a winning one at Gulfstream Park.
Starting her career off going 5 ½ furlongs on the all weather surface, Smile Po took up duties pressuring the leader from the very beginning and never let up. Asked to make a serious challenge around the turn, she was swung into the four path in the stretch and took command in the final furlong.
Smile Po pulled away to a three length Maiden Special Weight victory with the third placed runner 5 ¾ lengths behind.
Trained by David Fawkes, she is owned by Brazil Stables and was bred in Florida by Four Horsemen’s Ranch.
The filly is out of the winning Flatter mare Grin, who has three winners from four to race. That mare is a half-sister to the dam of Grade 3 winner No Dozing. Each of Grin’s first four dams have either produced stakes winners or the dams of stakes winners.
KARAKONTIE’s first six crops include 136 winners with 15 stakes winners and 29 stakes performers. Included in that group are Grade 1 winners Spendarella and She Feels Pretty.