Rock N Rye facing tougher in I'm Smokin Stakes
Rock N Rye dominated three rivals with an easy win in the Graduation Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 8 at Del Mar.
The competition is likely to be deeper in Saturday’s $100,000 I’m Smokin Stakes for statebreds at six furlongs. Rock N Rye may be in tougher against as many as seven rivals.
Trainer Walther Solis said Rock N Rye missed training time in advance of the Graduation Stakes because of sore shins, which is no longer an issue.
“I think he’s going better for this race because before his last race I lost some time with him trying to get him right,” Solis said. “He’s over that already.
“After that race, he’s been training super.”
Owned by Tom London, Terry Lovingier, and Eugene Zondlo, Rock N Rye has won his last two starts, a streak that began with a win in a maiden special weight race for statebreds on May 30 at Santa Anita.
Rock N Rye led throughout the maiden win and closed from third in a small field in the Graduation to prevail by 4 1/4 lengths as the 7-10 favorite. Umberto Rispoli rode Rock N Rye in the Graduation and has the mount in the I’m Smokin.
Solis has two other runners in the I’m Smokin – Mr. T’s Thirsty, who was third in the Graduation, and Thirsty Always, who was fourth in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at six furlongs on Aug. 7.
“I think Mr. T’s will be fighting for the front,” Solis said.
The I’m Smokin field includes the fillies Zuboshi and Eleuthera, who also were entered in Friday’s $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes for statebred fillies at Del Mar.
Zuboshi will start in the I’m Smokin, trainer Peter Miller said. The easy winner of a maiden special weight race against open company at five furlongs on turf on July 30, Zuboshi’s presence in the I’m Smokin adds another pacesetter. She starts from the inside post.
Eleuthera has raced once, finishing a troubled second in a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf against California-bred fillies on Aug. 12. She raced in traffic on the turn and finished 4 1/4 lengths behind Dendera.
Leading rider Flavien Prat rides Moose Mitchell, a maiden after two starts. Trained by George Papaprodromou, Moose Mitchell disputed the pace throughout a six-furlong maiden race on Aug. 22 and was beaten a head after leading in the final furlong.