Watchem Smokey

Born Feb. 26, 2000, by Alphabet Soup, out of Karon’s Dream, by Geiger Counter

Watchem’ Smokey is a gorgeous Oklahoma bred gelding. He started out in claiming and maiden races. He won all of his first 6 starts under Cecil Borel. After that, Bobby Frankel knew this horse was a good one and bought him for a client named Edmund Gann. Actually, Smokey was one of the best sprinters in the west at the time Bobby bought him. His first big win was when he won the Airline Stakes at Louisiana Downs, and after he raced in an allowance race, Smokey won the 2003 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes, a Grade 3 stakes race at Hollywood Park with Julie Krone aboard. After this big win, he continued to work his way to the top.

Tragedy stuck when he was unable to avoid a fallen horse in a stakes race at Santa Anita (Potero Grande Stakes Gr.2). After this, he never fully regained his old form, but was still a successful horse. After a few more races, Smokey was claimed for $100,000 at Keeneland, but did wind up winning 3 more stakes races including the Delta Mile, the John Henry Stakes, and the Gulf Coast Classic, all at Evangeline. In the races after his injury, he won 6 of them, half being stakes races. Eventually, time did catch up with him, and Smokey went back to the bottom, in claiming races. In his last race in 2009, he blew the ligaments in his front left leg. It is visible for visitors to see. His new owner, Kelly Benjamin who claimed him, was told euthanasia was her best option. She knew he was a fighter and went against what they advised her. The Oklahoma Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation donated that month’s funds to rehabilitate him.

Despite his injury, Smokey came in 3rd in his last race. Smokey was in the money 19 times out of 50 starts (13-9-7). Of his 13 wins, 5 of them were Stakes races. He made $513,897. Smokey arrived at Cabin Creek in March of 2010.