Implementation Has Something to Prove in Saturday’s Smile Sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Although installed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s $75,000 Smile Sprint, Ken Ramsey’s Implementation still has something to prove in the six-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds and up at Gulfstream Park.

The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained 6-year-old gelding is multiple graded stakes-placed stakes winner who has won on turf, dirt and all-weather surfaces but he has never won at six-furlongs – even through he has only tried the three-quarters-of-a-mile distance twice, resulting in a third-place finish at Churchill Downs in 2023 and a fourth-place finish at Saratoga in 2024.

“The six furlongs, I think is within his reach as long as he’s doing well. It’s probably a little bit on the short side, but I think he’s capable of winning at six,” Joseph said. “He’s won at 6 ½ [furlongs] on turf. When he ran six furlongs on dirt, he wasn’t doing as well as he is now.”

Implementation will be looking for back-to-back stakes wins Saturday after breaking through with a going-away 2 ½-length victory in the seven-furlong $150,000 Army Mule March 25. The son of Constitution had finished second in the one-turn-mile Fred Hooper (G3) in his previous start.

Implementation was claimed for $30,000 out of a 6 ½-length victory at Keeneland in April 2023 and went on to win his next two starts, a 6 ½-furlong starter allowance at Saratoga and a 6 ½-furlong turf allowance at Kentucky Downs. He didn’t win again until he returned to Kentucky Downs last September for a 6 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance score over a firm turf course.

“He definitely loves it at Kentucky Downs. We’d like to go back there. It’s rare that he runs on turf, but he loves it there. He runs on dirt the majority of the year after that,” Joseph said.

Edgard Zayas is scheduled to ride Implementation for the first time in the Smile Sprint, which will co-headline Saturday’s program with the $75,000 Soldier’s Dancer, a mile-and-70-yard handicap on Tapeta for 3-year-olds and up.

Joseph will also be represented in the Smile by Bassett Stables, Madaket Stables LLC and Wonder Stables’ Of a Revolution and Daniel Alonso’s One Sharp Cookie.

Of a Revolution, a multiple graded stakes-placed son of Maclean’s Music a couple of years ago before going to the sidelines for an extended period, finished an improved second in a six-furlong optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream last time out.

“His last race was an OK second. I thought the rider took him back more than he should have after breaking good,” Joseph said. “I feel like he could sit a good trip Saturday. I think he’s capable of winning.”

One Sharp Cookie returns from a three-month layoff after a poor effort in the March 29 Ghostzapper (G3).

“He’s off form compared to last year. He’s had a good series of breezes and should come back to form,” Joseph said. “Hopefully, he’ll go to the lead. He should come back to form this time.”

Rajiv Maragh will ride Of a Revolution (8-1) for the first time, while Jonathan Ocasio and One Sharp Cookie (15-1) will also get acquainted Saturday.

Chester Bishop, Anthony Hinkson, Alvin Rampaul, Patrick Biggs and Donovan Stanford’s Shaq Diesel is rated second at 2-1 on the morning-line in a field of six on the strength of a rousing four-length victory last time out in the seven-furlong Big Drama. The David Fawkes-trained 5-year-old son of Khozan, who has run only once at six furlongs without success, has performed at his best at seven-furlongs and a one-turn mile, like Implementation.

Miguel Vasquez has the return call on Shaq Diesel.

David Bernsen LLC and Leon King Stable Corp.’s Air Combat (6-1), who finished second behind Shaq Diesel in the Big Drama in his first start for trainer Jose D’Angelo; and Winning Stables Inc. and Todd Bittiger’s El Principito (7-2), who defeated Of a Revolution by four lengths last time out for trainer Gerald Bennett; round out the field.

Emisael Jaramillo has the return mount on Air Combat, while Jose Morelos will ride El Principito for the first time.