What's Next for Smiling Tiger, Richard's Kid?

Trainer Jeff Bonde reported Thursday morning that Smiling Tiger came out of his victory in Sunday’s Vernon O. Underwood Stakes “very well.”

“If everything goes as planned, he’ll start once more in the Palos Verdes before heading to Dubai,’’ said Bonde.

Meanwhile, Doug O’Neill was disappointed, but not discouraged, by Richard’s Kid’s fourth place finish in last Saturday’s Native Diver Stakes.

“He came back great,” said an upbeat O’Neill. “He ran bigger and gave more of an effort in the Breeders’ Cup (Classic) than I had originally thought. He just bounced a little bit. But he came out of it sound and we’re just shooting for a big time campaign in 2013.’’

The original blueprint was to take Richard’s Kid to Dubai for the World Cup, but O’Neill may have to rethink that plan.

“That’s one of those things that no matter what I think, you have to get invited anyway,’’ he said. “So we’ll play it by ear. That would be a dream place to run him, but he’s going to have to pick it up to be invited.”