Smiling Tiger , a a number of grade 1-winning millionaire who presently leads all California sires by 2024 progeny earnings, needed to be euthanized Aug. 1 on account of problems from ataxia. The 17-year-old had been standing at John Harris’ Harris Farms close to Coalinga, Calif., the place he stood for almost all of his stud profession.
Phil Lebherz and Alan Klein raced Smiling Tiger, who was educated by Jeff Bonde, and headed the staff that supported him at stud. Lebherz owned 75% curiosity and Klein 25%, with lots of the offspring bred by Premier Thoroughbreds, the identify of lots of Lebherz’s partnerships. Lebherz had a deep bond and love for Smiling Tiger, purchased as a yearling in 2008.
“He was truly Bonde’s first grade 1 winner ever,” Lebherz mentioned. That victory got here within the 2010 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar.
“It was enjoyable as a result of he was a 3-year-old towards older horses,” Lebherz mentioned. “Bob Baffert had two in there and in addition the champion from Australia (Scenic Blast) was in there.”
Smiling Tiger’s staff included Bonde and bloodstock agent Mersad Metanovic. Rusty Brown is one other who partnered on a number of of Smiling Tiger’s runners and is the proprietor/breeder of Shady Tiger , Smiling Tiger’s main earner of 2024. Shady Tiger this 12 months has gained the Echo Eddie Stakes and Snow Chief Stakes, and he’s the 9-5 morning line favourite for the Aug. 2 Actual Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar.
A son of Maintain That Tiger—Shandra Smiles, by Cahill Street, Smiling Tiger was a particular horse to your complete group. Lebherz recollects being impressed from the colt’s very first outing, a maiden race at Golden Gate Fields Might 1, 2009, which he gained after twice bucking off Corridor of Fame jockey Russell Baze.
“He truly broke unfastened, and he ran all the best way across the observe,” Lebherz mentioned. “Jeff begged them to not scratch him, and he gained the race by six lengths. It was simply superb.”
Dr. Rodney Orr bred Smiling Tiger in Kentucky, and the colt first went by way of an public sale ring within the 2008 Keeneland January winter combined sale as a brief yearling for an RNA of $32,000.
“He acquired turned down—he was on the market at Keeneland and so they did not purchase him,” Lebherz mentioned.
Lebherz bought Smiling Tiger for $40,000 on the 2008 Washington Thoroughbred Breeders’ Affiliation summer time yearling sale.
“He was very feminine-looking after we first noticed him,” Lebherz mentioned. “They mentioned he had a really female physique, however he was very balanced. He grew into himself.”
Smiling Tiger is also a handful, what Lebherz known as “a badass.” Lebherz famous that Bonde did an ideal job coaching the colt.
In simply his second begin, Smiling Tiger gained the Misplaced within the Fog Stakes at Golden Gate by eight lengths. After that race, Metanovic approached Lebherz to attempt to purchase Smiling Tiger.
“He did not wish to promote, however he gained me over,” mentioned Metanovic, who joined the staff and later helped them purchase mares to breed to Smiling Tiger.
Smiling Tiger raced 4 seasons, with a file of 9 wins, two seconds, and eight thirds in 23 begins for complete earnings of $1,480,704. The Crosby, 2010 Historical Title Stakes (G1), and 2011 Triple Bend Handicap (G1) have been amongst his seven graded wins, and he completed third within the 2010 and 2012 Breeders’ Cup Dash (G1).
When it got here time to retire Smiling Tiger, Lebherz and Klein determined to face him in California as a substitute of promoting him to Kentucky pursuits. Lebherz purchased property close to Oakdale, Calif., that was previously the Pioneer Equine Hospital and renamed it Premier Equine Middle. They later moved Smiling Tiger to Harris.
“John Harris has been nice,” Lebherz mentioned. “We have develop into good buddies, and he is had some good Tiger infants.”
Metanovic discovered mares for Lebherz, Klein, and Brown to purchase that will cross nicely with Smiling Tiger. One was Excellent Feat, a daughter of Pleasantly Excellent that Premier Thoroughbreds acquired for $7,500 on the 2014 Barretts January sale. Excellent Feat produced the Smiling Tiger filly Spiced Perfection , who went on to develop into a two-time California-bred Horse of the 12 months in 2018-19.
Lebherz offered Spiced Perfection earlier than she began, however one who did race for Lebherz, Klein, and Brown was Dr. No No, a 2021 son of Smiling Tiger—Enayat Alsalam, by Run Away and Disguise. He gained the 2023 I am Smokin Stakes at Del Mar and earned $151,290.
Grand Slam Smile , a daughter of Smiling Tiger bred and raced by Larry and Marianne Williams, has gained 4 stakes and was voted champion Cal-bred 2-year-old feminine of 2023. One other Cal-bred champion by the stallion is a number of stakes winner El Tigre Horrible .
Premier Thoroughbreds bred Smiling Shirlee , a stakes-winning daughter of Smiling Tiger. Metanovic mentioned that the partnership presently has her in foal to Sweet Journey.
Smiling Tiger’s different prime runners embody Washington-bred champion Baja Sur and Korean champion Ace Korea.
