From DMTC
DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 4, 2015) — Smokey Image, unbeaten in three starts, including victories in two stakes, in Northern California, brought his act to Southern California Friday and performed to his 3-5 odds, winning the featured $150,000 I’m Smokin Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles in handy style under regular rider Juan Hernandez at Del Mar.
Smokey Image, a son of Southern Image, shook off the challenge of 3-1 second choice Found Money in midstretch and drew off impressively to win by four and one-quarter lengths in 1:09.60 for the six furlongs on the main track.
Viviendo el Sueno was a distant third, five and three-quarter lengths behind the runner-up and six and one-half lengths ahead of fourth-place Xingontothebone in a spread out field of six California-bred two-year-olds.
Smokey Image, bred by C-Punch Ranch, owned by Betty and Robert G. Irvin of Pacific Palisades and conditioned by Greg James, broke his maiden in his first outing at Pleasanton June 21, followed up with a win in the Everett Nevin Stakes and, in his last outing, won the Cavonnier Juvenile Stakes at Santa Rosa August 16.
“I was a little worried when he was ding-donging with O’Neill’s horse (Found Money),” said James. “I was really worried about that. Usually when they’re ding-donging like that one of them gives up. But he’s an unbelievable horse. This horse has been good from day one and he has a lot of fight in him.”
Smokey Image returned $3.20, $2.20 and $2.10 and earned $85,500 to push his bankroll to $187,600. Found Money paid $3.20 and $2.40, while Viviendo el Sueno returned $2.80 to show.
Flavien Prat, who won four races Thursday, doubled Friday, as did Kent Desormeaux. With his two winners, Prat moved into second place in the jockey standings with 27 victories, nine behind leader Rafael Bejarano and one ahead of Joe Talamo.
There were five perfect tickets in Friday’s Pick Six and each was worth $14,122.