A disappointment in last month's Palos Verdes Stakes (gr. II), two-time grade I winner Smiling Tiger will get a new jockey for the $150,000 San Carlos Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 19 when Joel Rosario takes over.
Rosario replaces Russell Baze on the Jeff Bonde-trained 4-year-old Smiling Tiger. The colt threw a bit of a fit in the starting gate prior to the Palos Verdes Jan. 22 and finished a well-beaten third at 2-5 odds.
The 121-pound high weight will face five rivals in the seven-furlong San Carlos, which is the eighth race on the program with a 4:07 p.m. PST probable post. The San Carlos follows the San Luis Obispo Stakes (gr. II) at 1 1/2 miles on turf, which is race 3.
Winner of the Bing Crosby Stakes (gr. I) at Del Mar and Oak Tree's Ancient Title Stakes (gr. I) at Hollywood Park last year, Smiling Tiger turned in a hard-fought third to Big Drama in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) last November. The chestnut son of Hold That Tiger completed his sophomore campaign with a nose loss to the brilliant Twirling Candy after a stirring stretch battle in the Malibu Stakes (gr. I) on opening day at Santa Anita Dec. 26.
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