By DRF.com
DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 3, 2023) – The quick colt Lord Prancealot has won his first two starts with a bold front-running style that will be tested at six furlongs in Friday’s $125,000 I’m Smokin Stakes at Del Mar.
The running style worked for Lord Prancealot in a maiden race at five furlongs on July 29, and in the Graduation Stakes for California-breds at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 11.
A slightly longer distance in the I’m Smokin Stakes for statebreds may be a challenge for Lord Prancealot.
:: DRF’s 2023 Del Mar headquarters: Previews, past performances, picks, recaps, news, and more.
“He’s improved each week,” trainer Jeff Bonde said. “We’re hoping the experience and seasoning will carry him an extra half-furlong.
“His works have been sharp and he’s keeping his weight. I like to see that.”
Bonde describes Lord Prancealot as “kinda of a Quarter Horse-made guy, built for speed.”
Lord Prancealot is by Sir Prancealot, out of the Country Reel mare Disko Dasko, was bred by Jeff Ganje, is owned by Rusty Brown and Gange and is trained by Jeff Bonde. An RNA out of the Checkmate Thoroughbreds consignment at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association January Sale and he has won both starts with earnings of $120,450.
Lord Prancealot, who will be ridden by Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux, drew post 2 in a field of seven in the sixth race on an eight-race program that begins at 3 p.m. Pacific.
Friday is the first of three days of racing on the final weekend of the Del Mar summer meeting. Los Alamitos begins a two-week September meeting on Sept. 15.
The quick colt Lord Prancealot has won his first two starts with a bold front-running style that will be tested at six furlongs in Friday’s $125,000 I’m Smokin Stakes at Del Mar.
The running style worked for Lord Prancealot in a maiden race at five furlongs on July 29, and in the Graduation Stakes for California-breds at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 11.
A slightly longer distance in the I’m Smokin Stakes for statebreds may be a challenge for Lord Prancealot.
:: DRF’s 2023 Del Mar headquarters: Previews, past performances, picks, recaps, news, and more.
“He’s improved each week,” trainer Jeff Bonde said. “We’re hoping the experience and seasoning will carry him an extra half-furlong.
“His works have been sharp and he’s keeping his weight. I like to see that.”
Bonde describes Lord Prancealot as “kind of a Quarter Horse-made guy, built for speed.”
Lord Prancealot, who will be ridden by Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux, drew post 2 in a field of seven in the sixth race on an eight-race program that begins at 3 p.m. Pacific.
Friday is the first of three days of racing on the final weekend of the Del Mar summer meeting. Los Alamitos begins a two-week September meeting on Sept. 15.
Lord Prancealot, who races for Rusty Brown and Jeff Ganje, won the Graduation Stakes by a head after leading by 1 1/4 lengths with a furlong remaining. Last Call London and Mici’s Express, a fast-closing second and third in the Graduation, are part of the I’m Smokin field. They both have excellent chances to play a major role in deep stretch.
Last Call London closed from seventh in the Graduation after a troubled start, finding his best stride late. Juan Hernandez, the leading rider at the summer meeting, was aboard for that race and has the mount on Friday.
Last Call London is by Stay Thirsty, out of the Empire Way mare Zo Lo’s Lov, was bred by Terry Lovingier, is owned by Tom London, Lovingier and Eugene Zondlo and is trained by Peter Miller. He has one win in five starts and earnings of $81,370.
Mici’s Express closed from last in the Graduation to lose by three-quarters of a length in his sixth start. The most experienced runner in the I’m Smokin field, Mici’s Express won a maiden race for statebreds at five furlongs at 32-1 on July 22. He will be a much shorter price in the I’m Smokin, the longest race of his career.
Mici’s Express is by Slew’s Tiznow, out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Harlan Express, was bred by Eagle Ridge Racing & Rancho San Miguel, is owned by Thomas Halasz and trained by Steve Knapp. He has one win in six starts and earnings of $88,280.
“He wants to run a mile,” trainer Steve Knapp said.
The I’m Smokin Stakes will be the stakes debut of Dr. No No, the only runner in the field with a win at six furlongs. Dr. No No closed from third to win a maiden race for statebreds at that distance by 8 1/4 lengths on Aug. 13 in his second start.
Dr. No No is a Kentucky-bred by California stallion Smiling Tiger, out of the Run Away and Hide mare Enayat Alsalam, was bred by PT Syndicate #1, is owned by Rusty Brown, Alan Klein and Philip Lebherz and is trained by Brian Koriner. He has one win in two starts, earnings of $59,040 and is coming off an Aug. 13 maiden win.
He drew the outside post in the I’m Smokin, which should benefit his stalking style.
“It wasn’t the plan to run there,” Koriner said. “With the post, it’s hard to stay in the barn. He’s holding weight and looking good.”
Koriner rates Dr. No No as a contender in what he considers to be a wide-open running of the I’m Smokin Stakes.
“I think we’re all pretty even,” he said.
Shady Appeal is by Twice the Appeal, out of the Bandini mare Santa Lucia, was bred by owner Rusty Brown and is trained by Jeff Bonde. He has one win in three starts, earnings of $39,550 and is coming off a sixth in the Aug. 11 Graduation.
Tiger in My Tank is by Smiling Tiger, out of the Benchmark mare Marks Mine, was bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams and is trained by Jack Steiner. He has two wins in three starts, earnings of $38,700 and is coming off a win in an Aug. 12 optional claimer.
Smokem Ez is by Smokem, out of the A. P. Indy mare EZ Indy, was bred by Terry Lovingier, is owned by Anthony Chacon, Victor Flores and Lovingier and is trained by Steven Miyadi. He has one win in two starts, earnings of $48,080 and is coming off a seventh in the Aug. 11 Graduation.