Early Encore seeks redemption in I'm Smokin
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DEL MAR, Calif. – A summer race meet that did not start well for 2-year-old Early Encore is expected to end with a more gratifying result Monday, closing day at Del Mar.
One month after an excusable third as the odds-on favorite in the Graduation Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds, Early Encore seeks redemption in the same division. If his last-start alibi is legit, Early Encore is likely to win the $100,000 I’m Smokin Stakes.
Seven juveniles bred in California are entered in the I’m Smokin, a six-furlong race in which Early Encore can turn the tables on the Graduation winner. Net Par’s victory was his second of the meet. But did the best horse win? Maybe not.
Early Encore was all the rage based on his smashing debut at Santa Anita, a 6 3/4-length runaway. But the Graduation unfolded wrong for the 2-5 favorite. Early Encore also did not care for the surface.
“The track was heavy, he was fighting the track,” trainer John Sadler said. “He didn’t like it; he was down inside.”
After breaking from post 3, Early Encore rushed to duel inside. He battled into the stretch, then tired and finished third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Net Par. Sadler expects Early Encore, by Early Voting, to rebound from the outside post in the seven-horse field Monday.
“He’s one of those horses that had a race over the track and really has done good since then,” Sadler said.
Jockey Emisael Jaramillo replaces Joel Rosario, who rides Monday at Kentucky Downs.
Net Par, trained by Antonio Garcia, has done little wrong this summer. After finishing third in his debut at Santa Anita, Net Par improved at Del Mar. He won a maiden race by more than seven lengths, then rallied from slightly off the pace to win the Graduation by a nose.
Juan Hernandez rides Net Par, who faces challenges. The first is to hold form for three races in a short meet, which is never easy. Secondly, recent Graduation winners have fallen short in the I’m Smokin.
The last four Graduation winners who ran in the I’m Smokin lost as the favorite – Sammy Davis, fifth in 2025; Lord Prancealot, fifth in 2023; Rock N Rye, second in 2021; and Continental Divide, fourth in 2017. Wake Up Nick won both races in 2014.
Five others in the I’m Smokin are outsiders, including George Papaprodromou-trained maidens Empire of Ash and Little King. Empire of Ash encountered early trouble in his debut, trailed the field of 10, then rallied to fourth, beaten less than three lengths. Antonio Fresu rides Empire of Ash. Little King, third and second in his first two starts, will be ridden by Joe Bravo.
Others entered are Prime Splash, Cupid Cowboy, and front-runner Fumano’s Fire. Ultimately, the I’m Smokin is likely to be won by Early Encore, who could start favored despite his last-out defeat. The caveat is I’m Smokin favorites won just one of the last 10 editions.
The I’m Smokin is race 6, the first leg of the closing-day pick six.
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