Rockingham Ranch’s California Diamond, who earned his stakes spurs in the Santa Anita Juvenile and then was runner-up in Del Mar’s Graduation Stakes in early August, heads a field of seven California-bred two-year-olds Friday in the 27^th running of the $150,000 I’m Smokin Stakes.

 

Kent Desormeaux has the call from trainer Peter Miller aboard California Diamond, who will be opposed by Rinse and Repeat (Mario Gutierrez), Elwood J (Martin Garcia), Upstaging the Cast (Gary Stevens), Milton Freewater (Flavien Prat) , Mo Soul (Tiago Pereira) and Accountability (Drayden Van Dyke) in the six-furlong dash.

 

After breaking his maiden June 17 at Santa Anita, California Diamond, a son of Harbor the Gold, won the Santa Anita Juvenile by three-quarters of a length over Green With Eddie. In a rematch with that rival in the Graduation Stakes, California Diamond was second,  bowing by three and one-quarter lengths after setting the early pace.

 

Rinse and Repeat was impressive breaking his maiden July 16 and then ran fourth to the best juveniles on the grounds in the Best Pal Stakes, well beaten by Klimt. The remaining entrants in the I’m Smokin Stakes are winners of a maiden race.

 

Post time for the first of eight races Friday will be 3:30 p.m.