DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 25, 2019) – Graded winner Phantom Boss and unbeaten Graduation Stakes winner Big Return are entered in Friday’s $100,000 I’m Smokin Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-olds at Del Mar.
Shady Empire is by Empire Way, out of the Awesome Gambler mare River Kiss, was bred by Terry Lovingier, is owned by Brown Jr., Brown or Lovingier and is trained by Jeff Bonde. He has one win in three starts, earnings of $45,000 and is coming off a sixth in the Aug. 2 Graduation Stakes.
Bluegrass Faith is by Bluegrass Cat, out of the Beau Genius mare Faith Colleen, was bred by Ballena Vista Farm, is owned by J. Kirk & Judy Robison and is trained by Peter Miller. He has one win in two starts, earnings of $30,000 and is coming off a fourth in the Aug. 2 Graduation Stakes.
Phantom Boss is by Shackleford, out of the Street Boss mare Bossy Belle, was bred by Terry Lovingier, is owned by Bada Beng Racing, Beckerle or Navarro and is trained by Jorge Periban. He has two wins in three starts, earnings of $131,850 and is coming off a win in the June 29 Grade III Bashford Manor.
Riding With Dino is by Vronsky, out of the Yankee Gentleman mare Belloma, was bred by George Krikorian, is owned by Paradise Farms, Cady or Featherston and is trained by Robert Hess, Jr. He has one win in two starts, earnings of $21,228 and is coming off a win in an Aug. 3 maiden claimer.
Pas de Panique is a Washington-bred by California stallion Smiling Tiger, out of the Harbor the Gold mare Carrabelle Harbor, was bred by Bar C Racing Stables, is owned by Where We At and trained by Mark Glatt. He has one win in three starts, earnings of $71,000 and is coming off a second in the Aug. 2 Graduation Stakes.
Club Aspen is by Clubhouse Ride, out of the Talkin Man mare Aspen Gal, was bred by Harris Farms, is owned by Lawrence Lewis and trained by Craig Lewis. He has one win in two starts, earnings of $40,260 and is coming off an Aug. 2 maiden win.
Drippin Sauce is by Vronsky, out of the Bold Badgett mare Always Fashionable, was bred by Old English Rancho, is owned by Slam Dunk Racing or Nentwig and is trained by Jonathan Wong. He has two wins in three starts, earnings of $52,200 and is coming off an Aug. 10 starter’s optional claiming win.
El Tigre Terrible is by Smiling Tiger, out of the Gotham City mare King City Kitty, was bred by Martin Bach, is owned by Slam Dunk Racing or Nentwig and is trained by Peter Miller. He has one win in three starts, earnings of $25,900 and is coming off a third in an Aug. 10 starter’s optional claiming win.
Big Returns is by Mr. Big, out of the Orientate mare Quick Chick, was bred by George Krikorian, is owned by William Peeples and is trained by Luis Mendes. He has won both starts, including the Aug. 2 Graduation Stakes, with earnings of $93,600
Tap Back is by Einstein, out of the Tapit mare Tap Tap Ur It, was bred by Adena Springs & Richard Barton Enterprises, is owned by Barton and trained by Jeff Bonde. He won his lone start Aug. 16 with earnings of $36,600.
Square Deal is by Square Eddie, out of the Jump Start mare North Freeway, was bred by Thomas Bachman, is owned by Arnold Zetcher or Qatar Racing and is trained by Simon Callaghan. He is a maiden making his fourth start with earnings of $21,300.