Rivals Meet Again

Two days before Kentucky, Florida and Maryland breds fight it out in the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity, 2-year-olds bred in California will race for a smaller prize in the $100,000 I’m Smokin Stakes this afternoon at Del Mar.

A gray son of Benchmark bred owned by Cecil Peacock and trained by Dan Hendricks, Don’tsellmeshort will be favored in the field of six on the strength of his win in the Graduation on July 30.

Coming off a thrashing by Stalking Tiger when the 17-10 favorite ran in the Haggin Stakes on June 21 at Hollywood Park, Don’tsellmeshort turned the tables on that one in the Graduation. He led every step of the way under jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who will be aboard again today, and won by three lengths in 1:04 1/5 for the 5 1/2 furlongs.

Don’tsellmeshort isn’t the only member of the field for the I’m Smokin, which goes at six furlongs, who has won at Del Mar. P Town John has won his two starts over the track by a combined 8 1/2 lengths for trainer Jeff Bonde, Bewitching Bartok broke his maiden at 20-1 on Aug. 16, and Winter Squall won for the first time by three lengths, on Aug. 3

Rounding out the lineup are Dave The Dude, who has lost three in a row since winning his debut at Hollywood Park more than three months ago, and Pioneerman, who beat the top one in Inglewood when last seen on May 7 for trainer A.C. Avila.

Race of the day: Gods Ear, who won at 10-1 in her Del Mar debut on Aug. 1, will make her first start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer in today’s seventh, a $58,000 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Valenzuela will ride the Unusual Heat filly, who was claimed for $50,000 by a partnership that includes Hollendorfer.

One for the road: Chispiski looks to have the controlling speed in the $40,000 Going Up, the eighth of nine races at Calder. She can go wire-to-wire under jockey Julio Garcia in the seven-furlong contest.

Exotically speaking: A Del Mar pick three using Tioga Lake, Excaper and Grinding It Out in the third, singling Skywalker Red in the fourth and Saboya, Reatta Pass and Action Forthe Year in the fifth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/101. Money: Previous day/meet total: $7.40/$571.60. Total money bet: $708.