DEL MAR, Calif. – The quick colt Lord Prancealot has won his first two starts with a bold front-running style that will be tested at six furlongs in Friday’s $125,000 I’m Smokin Stakes at Del Mar. The running style worked for Lord Prancealot in a maiden race at five furlongs on July 29, and in the Graduation Stakes for California-breds at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 11. A slightly longer distance in the I’m Smokin Stakes for statebreds may be a challenge for Lord Prancealot. :: DRF's 2023 Del Mar headquarters: Previews, past performances, picks, recaps, news, and more. “He’s improved each week,” trainer Jeff Bonde said. “We’re hoping the experience and seasoning will carry him an extra half-furlong. “His works have been sharp and he’s keeping his weight. I like to see that.” Bonde describes Lord Prancealot as “kinda of a Quarter Horse-made guy, built for speed.” Lord Prancealot, who will be ridden by Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux, drew post 2 in a field of seven in the sixth race on an eight-race program that begins at 3 p.m. Pacific. Friday is the first of three days of racing on the final weekend of the Del Mar summer meeting. Los Alamitos begins a two-week September meeting on Sept. 15. Lord Prancealot, who races for Rusty Brown and Jeff Ganje, won the Graduation Stakes by a head after leading by 1 1/4 lengths with a furlong remaining. Last Call London and Mici’s Express, a fast-closing second and third in the Graduation, are part of the I’m Smokin field. They both have excellent chances to play a major role in deep stretch. Last Call London closed from seventh in the Graduation after a troubled start, finding his best stride late. Juan Hernandez, the leading rider at the summer meeting, was aboard for that race and has the mount on Friday. Mici’s Express closed from last in the Graduation to lose by three-quarters of a length in his sixth start. The most experienced runner in the I’m Smokin field, Mici’s Express won a maiden race for statebreds at five furlongs at 32-1 on July 22. He will be a much shorter price in the I’m Smokin, the longest race of his career. “He wants to run a mile,” trainer Steve Knapp said. The I’m Smokin Stakes will be the stakes debut of Dr. No No, the only runner in the field with a win at six furlongs. Dr. No No closed from third to win a maiden race for statebreds at that distance by 8 1/4 lengths on Aug. 13 in his second start. Trained by Brian Koriner for Brown, Alan Klein, and Phil Lebherz, Dr. No No drew the outside post in the I’m Smokin, which should benefit his stalking style. “It wasn’t the plan to run there,” Koriner said. “With the post, it’s hard to stay in the barn. He’s holding weight and looking good.” Koriner rates Dr. No No as a contender in what he considers to be a wide-open running of the I’m Smokin Stakes. “I think we’re all pretty even,” he said. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.