Venue & Race Details
- Track: Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, California
- Race: I’m Smokin Stakes (Race 7)
- Date & Post Time: Friday, September 5, 2025 – 6:00 PM PT
- Distance: 5 furlongs + 110 yards (dirt)
- Purse: $100,000
- Eligibility: Two‑year‑olds, California‑bred or sired
Field Analysis – Horses, Jockeys, Trainers & Pedigrees
1 – Sammy Davis (USA)
- Jockey: Hector Isaac Berrios
- Trainer: John W. Sadler
- Pedigree: Sir Prancealot (IRE) – Ready for Romance (More Than Ready)
- Profile: Unbeaten in two starts, including the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar in August. Possesses sharp gate speed and proven stakes class. Sir Prancealot progeny often excel in turf and dirt sprints, and his dam adds versatility.
2 – Desert Dawg (USA)
- Jockey: Kyle Frey
- Trainer: Adan Farias
- Pedigree: Stay Thirsty – Shazara (El Corredor)
- Profile: Broke maiden impressively at Los Alamitos in June, drawing off by 3½ lengths. Stay Thirsty offspring tend to carry speed well over middle distances; dam line suggests stamina with a turn of foot.
3 – Saul Elliott (USA)
- Jockey: Antonio Fresu
- Trainer: Doug F. O’Neill
- Pedigree: Listing – Cryptic (Indian Charlie)
- Profile: Won debut at Santa Anita in May; troubled trip in stakes company at Churchill Downs. By freshman sire Listing, offering precocity and sprint aptitude.
4 – Another Bulleit (USA)
- Jockey: Mirco Demuro
- Trainer: Paula S. Capestro
- Pedigree: I’ll Have Another – Silver Score (Even the Score)
- Profile: Consistent placer with tactical speed; still seeking breakthrough win. Pedigree leans toward stamina, but has shown early pace in shorter trips.
5 – Thirsty Rebel (USA)
- Jockey: Abel Lezcano
- Trainer: Doug F. O’Neill
- Pedigree: Stay Thirsty – Argyle Pink (Sky Mesa)
- Profile: Dominant maiden winner at Del Mar in July by 3¾ lengths. Shares sire with Desert Dawg; dam line adds class and sprint speed.
6 – Max Ciao (USA)
- Jockey: Armando Ayuso
- Trainer: Steve R. Knapp
- Pedigree: Maxfield – Bella Ciao (Flatter)
- Profile: Scored a 6¼‑length maiden win at Del Mar in August. By rising sire Maxfield, whose progeny are showing early speed and stamina blend.
7 – Fionello (USA)
- Jockey: Ruben Silvera
- Trainer: Steve R. Knapp
- Pedigree: Stay Thirsty – My Fiona (Ghostzapper)
- Profile: Stakes‑placed; adds blinkers for the first time. Dam was a multiple stakes winner; sire line offers durability and late kick.
8 – Pavlovian (USA)
- Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
- Trainer: Doug F. O’Neill
- Pedigree: Pavel – Mandy’s Grace (Bellamy Road)
- Profile: Multiple stakes‑placed; runner‑up to a top prospect in the Best Pal prep. Pavel’s first crop showing versatility; dam line adds dirt sprint credentials.
Recent Form & Key Angles
- Sammy Davis: The horse to beat — unbeaten, stakes‑proven, and loves Del Mar’s surface.
- Thirsty Rebel & Max Ciao: Both come off dominant maiden wins with big speed figures.
- Desert Dawg & Pavlovian: Stakes‑placed types who could capitalize if the pace collapses.
- Fionello: Blinkers could sharpen early focus; pedigree suggests improvement possible.
Pace & Trip Projection
Expect a hot early pace with Sammy Davis, Thirsty Rebel, and Max Ciao vying for the lead. Stalkers like Desert Dawg and Pavlovian could get ideal setups if the front‑runners duel too hard.
