By DRF.com
SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (May 14, 2025) — Smoken Boy, a Kentucky-bred son of California stallion Catholic Boy, won Wednesday’s $150,000 Caesars Handicap for 3-year-olds at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Smoken Boy scored by a head over 1-2 favorite Chasing Liberty in the Caesars, a big win for owner KEM Stables and trainer Cheryl Winebaugh. Smoken Boy made his first three starts in Puerto Rico, winning the Grade I Clasico Agustin Mercado Reveron Stakes in December. He earned a trip to Florida, where he finished eighth in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
Smoken Boy, in his next start, was offered for a $75,000 claiming price, and KEM took him. At 112-1, Smoken Boy ran to his odds in the Florida Derby, but more than earned back his purchase price Wednesday, picking up a check worth $92,733.
He has three wins in seven starts and earnings of $164,993. His third dam is Cal-bred multiple graded winner Go Go.
Ridden by Manny Esquivel, Smoken Boy tracked the pace of Brodeur while racing about three wide around both turns. At the quarter pole, Luis Saez on 1-2 favorite Chasing Liberty appeared to have a lot of horse, waiting for Brodeur to vacate the rail, which he did, but Chasing Liberty did not punch hard when he got through along the fence. Brodeur faded but Smoken Boy stayed on and pushed past Chasing Liberty in the last few strides.
Smoken Boy ran one mile and 70 yards over the sloppy, sealed surface in 1:42.07 and paid $10.20 as the distant third choice. Smoken Boy is by Catholic Boy out of Smoken Deb, by Cairo Prince. That pedigree leans more turf than dirt, but his race’s move from turf to dirt Wednesday gave Smoken Boy the Caesars.