Golden State Series: I’m Smokin Stakes

BLINKERS OFF

GOOD WITH PEOPLE PROVES BEST IN I’M SMOKIN STAKES

BY TRACY GANTZ

Peter Miller knows how to win at Del Mar, often with California-breds. Te trainer fnished another season as the summer meet’s leading conditioner, saddling 28 winners that included two from J. Kirk and Judy Robison’s homebred Good With People.

Two-year-old Good With People ended the Del Mar meeting by becoming a stakes winner in the $94,000 I’m Smokin Stakes Sept. 4. Te colt started three times during the meeting, winning twice and running second in the Graduation Stakes. And he gave his sire, Curlin to Mischief, his frst stakes winner.

Miller began racing Good With People in blinkers, and the colt broke his maiden by 3 1 ⁄4 lengths. In the Graduation he had led early but lost by a half-length to Positivity. Miller decided to take the blinkers of for the I’m Smokin.

“Tat made the big diference,” the trainer said. “He was a little too aggressive last time with the blinkers, and he couldn’t see the horses coming at the end. We worked him without the blinkers and he did really well.”

Abel Cedillo rode Good With People in his frst two races and was back aboard for the six-furlong I’m Smokin.

“Te last time I rode him, we had an easy lead and he got real tired,” the jockey said. “I suggested to Peter that we take the blinkers of to help him relax.”

In against just three others in the I’m Smokin, Good With People went of as the 9-10 favorite. When the gate opened, Good With People beat the others to the lead and was able to dictate the pace, despite Tacofavoredkisses racing only a halflength back on the inside.

“We went to the front, but he did it easily,” said Cedillo. “He had just enough late

Good With People sees off the competition in Del Mar’s I’m Smokin Stakes for state-breds

BENOIT PHOTO ©

this time to get the job done.”

Good With People completed the frst quarter-mile in :22.48 and the half-mile in :45.59. When Tacofavoredkisses started to back out on the turn, Touchdown Brown ranged up to challenge. Good With People drew out to a two-length lead in the stretch, but Touchdown Brown began closing ground to make the margin a half-length at the wire. Good With People stopped the timer in 1:10.37. Tacofavoredkisses fnished third.

“It got a little close at the end,” said Miller. “He looked like a winner last time too at the eighth pole and the sixteenth pole, so I wasn’t counting my eggs before they were hatched.”

Te Robisons, of El Paso, Texas, bred Good With People in California; he was foaled at Ballena Vista Farm. Te colt’s dam, the Roar of the Tiger mare Gator Prowl, won the Marshua Stakes at Laurel.

Litt Bloodstock purchased Gator Prowl as a broodmare prospect for $15,000 at the 2010 Keeneland November sale. Te mare has produced all fve of her starters for the Robisons, including multiple stakes winner Fast Gator, stakes-placed Gator Heat, and $148,040-earner Diabolical Gator, all bred in New Mexico.

Curlin to Mischief, who stands at Rancho San Miguel, did not race, but brings a stellar pedigree with him. By two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, he is a half brother to multiple champion Beholder and to grade 1 winners Mendelssohn and Into Mischief, the latter sire of 2020 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Authentic.