Smokey Image making noise in California

Flash back to about this time two years ago. Had anyone heard of a very nice colt by the name of California Chrome? If you hadn’t, don’t feel bad; the eventual 2014 Kentucky Derby winner had just hit my radar after absolutely dominating the Cal Cup Derby. Fast forward back to today and you will find a similar situation developing.

While two years ago California Chrome and jockey Victor Espinoza were figuring things out in the Cal-bred stakes, this year a striking chestnut colt sporting blinkers by the name of Smokey Image is absolutely dominating the California-bred circuit. Ridden by Juan Hernandez in his first five starts, Smokey Image got a jockey upgrade for today’s Cal Cup Derby to, you guessed it, Victor Espinoza.

Neither the jockey change, the trainer change to Carla Gaines, the high weight of 123 lbs nor the stretch out from 7 furlongs to 1 1/16 mile bothered the colt at all. Breaking smoothly from post 2, the son of Southern Image immediately took the race to his over-matched foes. He established the lead at the beginning and simply opened up at will en route to an 8 ½ length drubbing of the rest of the field. And that’s just the feather in the cap for what has thus far been an undefeated career for the 3-year old Irvin Racing star.

Owners Betty and Robert Irvin and trainer Greg James unveiled Smokey Image on June 21, 2015 at Oak Tree at Pleasanton in an open maiden special weight for 2-year olds. After breaking slowly, the colt moved up into contention, circled four wide on the far turn and drove clear to a 5-length victory.

Next up was a try in stakes company at Oak Tree at Pleasanton in the black type Everett Nevin Stakes. Once again Smokey Image broke slowly but lost little more time gathering himself and moving up to press the lead. Without being asked the question, he once again effortlessly opened up, this time to win by 6 ½-lengths.

A trip to Santa Rosa for the black type Cavonnier Juvenile Stakes resulted in much the same as the colt’s previous two starts. Off slowly as per usual, Smokey Image’s poor break nearly cost him this time. After finding his stride, Smokey Image ended up caught behind rivals and boxed in, resulting in him having to race firmly in hand to the turn. Once he finally found room to run approaching the quarter pole, he roared into full stride and rallied to win by 2-lengths despite not switching leads in the stretch.

By his fourth career start, Smokey Image had finally figured out the breaking aspect of racing and went immediately to the lead in the black type I’m Smokin Stakes for Golden State Series Eligibile Cal-bred or Cal-sired two-year olds at Santa Anita. Joined on the lead by two foes, Smokey Image dueled with one or both of those two throughout nearly the entirety of the 6 furlong affair. He was finally able to edge clear in deep stretch and drew off to a 4 ¼-length victory.

His fifth career start, the black type Golden State Juvenile Stakes for Cal-bred or Cal-sired 2-year olds, perhaps truly showcased Smokey Image’s class. Bobbling at the start, Smokey Image moved up the rail to try and get into contention but ended up behind a wall of horses, further off the pace than he had ever been. As the field exited the far turn, room opened up to the inside and the colt roared through, setting his sights on the leaders. Moving to the outside, Smokey Image collared the leaders just in time to keep his undefeated résumé intact, posting a mere ¾-length victory.

Now 6-for-6 for purse earnings of $435,100, Smokey Image races as a homebred for Irvin Racing. Though he emulates California Chrome in many ways, there are a couple things that set him apart from the 2014 Champion 3-Year Old Male and Horse of the Year. First of all, Smokey Image is undefeated. Secondly, his pedigree is a bit flashier than that of Dumbass Partnership’s acclaimed “blue-collar” runner.

By Southern Image and out of the Free House mare Special Smoke, Smokey Image has Big Cap breeding and winners on the top and bottom of his pedigree. Sire Southern Image won the 2004 running of the prestigious Santa Anita Handicap while damsire Free House annexed the 1999 edition, two years after winning the Santa Anita Derby and running third, second and third in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes respectively.

Dam Special Smoke did little on the track though she has the distinguishment of being the first winner over Del Mar’s new polytrack in 2004. Thus far Smokey Image is the best foal she has produced. Through the dam line, you have to go all the way back to Smokey Image’s fourth dam Nakterjal to find some black type. A session with Bien Bien in 1996 resulted in millionaire Bienamado. Group 1 placed in France, Bienamado found big success when transferred to the United States. Over three racing seasons in North America, Bienamado won the G2 Sunset Handicap, the G1 Hollywood Turf Cup, the G2 San Marcos Stakes, the G1 San Juan Capistrano Invitational and the G1 Charles Whittingham Handicap. A daughter, Minimal Surface, produced Expedicionaria, a graded stakes winner in Venezuela.

Sire Southern Image has had modest success since entering stud duty. Among his best runners to date are Southern Speed (AUS), Winning Image, and Calibrachoa. Winning Image was a multiple stakes winner while Southern Speed and Calibrachoa were graded stakes winners during their time on the track.

What does all this mean for Smokey Image? It is hard to say for sure until he takes the next step forward, but he has the looks and pedigree to make a serious runner. Like California Chrome, he needs to pass the acid test in graded stakes company, but if he continues to run the way he has been, he could give Nyquist a serious run for his money on the West Coast. Regardless, he’s certainly one to keep an eye on as we move through the end of winter and into spring.