Awesome Banner fires bullet in preparation for Smile Sprint

Jacks or Better Farm’s Awesome Banner turned in a bullet workout at Laurel Park Friday in preparation for a scheduled start in the $250,000 Smile Sprint (G3) on the July 1 Summit of Speed card at Gulfstream Park.

The multiple graded-stakes winner worked a half-mile handily from the gate in 47.80 seconds, the fastest of 34 workouts recorded at the distance.

“We're prepping him to run in the Smile. This morning was his last work. He worked a minute flat last week going five-eighths of a mile. He does his best work out of the gate,” trainer Ken Decker said. “We kind of figured if the track was good this morning that he'd put in a good work, and 47-and-change is a good work.

“He's a little bit funny. You know how some of these horses are – they've got their little quirks and that's kind of him. He does his best works out of the gate and going into this kind of race we want to make sure we cover all our bases,” he added. “It was a nice work, and he cooled out good. We'll catch the van and see how we do. He's doing really well."

Awesome Banner launched his career at Gulfstream Park in 2016 with three straight victories, including triumphs in the Hutcheson (G3) and Swale (G2). The son of Awesome of Course has registered five stakes victories over the Gulfstream track. He finished second in the $150,000 Carry Back (G3) on last year’s Summit of Speed card.

Most recently, Awesome Banner finished a sharp third at Pimlico in the May 20 Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3), won by a half-length by Whitmore over A.P. Indian. Awesome Banner was just a head behind the runner-up.

Decker said Awesome Banner is scheduled to ship to Gulfstream Wednesday morning.

The Smile Sprint and the co-featured $250,000 Princess Rooney (G2) are designated Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ races.

Elaine Vinson’s Gray Beau ($18.40) split horses during a furious finish to eke out victory by a nose in Friday’s featured seventh race, a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance in which 2016 Florida Derby runner-up Majesto made an unsuccessful return from an 11-month layoff.

Gray Beau, who was ridden by Luca Panici, edged Prince Tito, Majesto’s stablemate who made an extended outside stretch bid. Chiseled, the 5-2 second choice ridden by Jorge Ruiz, finished another nose back in third. Majesto, who stalked the early pace, came up short in the stretch to finish fifth as the 2-1 favorite.

Gray Beau ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.43.