By Noah Meagher
Maxfield's first stakes winner as a freshman sire comes in as Max Ciao takes the I'm Smokin Stakes at Del Mar on Friday.
Unveiled as a third-place finisher at Santa Anita May 25, the colt was fourth, beaten seven lengths, July 19 by Friday's 3-2 second choice Thirsty Rebel. Max Ciao found himself in the winners circle in career start number three, a six-length victor back here at Del Mar Aug. 8.
In his first stakes try, the son of Maxfield broke alertly, stalking just over a length off the speed up the backstretch. In tandem with familiar foe Thirsty Rebel (Stay Thirsty), the duo powered past front-running 7-5 favorite Sammy Davis (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) at the top of the stretch. Shoulder to shoulder at the sixteenth pole, the 7-1 shot just got his nose down on the wire. Saul Elliot (Listing) rallied for third.
Bella Ciao is a daughter of Anandi (Anabaa) and is a half-sister to Val's Jazz (Kentucky Jazz), who herself produced stakes winners Grand Reefer (Grand Slam), Boowoogeemalia (El Corredor) and Love That Jazz (Not For Love). The winner's dam is responsible for a pair of Stay Thirsty progeny–currently a yearling colt and a weanling colt. She was bred back to Hopkins for 2026.
I'M SMOKIN S., $101,000, Del Mar, 9-5, (S), 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:03.59, ft.
1--MAX CIAO, 121, c, 2, by Maxfield
1st Dam: Bella Ciao (MSP, $201,047), by Flatter
2nd Dam: Anandi, by Anabaa
3rd Dam: Anawac, by Quack
($240,000 RNA Ylg '24 FTCAYR). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Steve Knapp, Terry C. Lovingier, and John Moroney; B-Terry C. Lovingier (CA); T-Steve R. Knapp; J-Armando Ayuso. $57,000. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-0-1, $117,000.
2--Thirsty Rebel, 121, c, 2, Stay Thirsty–Argyle Pink, by Sky Mesa. ($90,000 Ylg '24 FTCAYR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Mark D. Breen; B-Terry C. Lovingier (CA); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $19,000.
3--Saul Elliott, 121, c, 2, Listing–Cryptic, by Indian Charlie. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Here We Go Brothers and Seymour Jukie and Jack Stable LLC; B-Reddam Racing, LLC (CA); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $12,000.
Margins: NO, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 7.30, 1.50, 9.60.
Also Ran: Fionello, Sammy Davis, Another Bulleit, Pavlovian, Desert Dawg.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
MAX CIAO ($16.60) got his nose down at the right time in the $100,000 I'm Smokin Stakes at @DelMarRacing. The son of @DarleyAmerica's Maxfield is trained by Steve Knapp. @ArmandoAyuso2 had the call. @CTBACalbred pic.twitter.com/nXUWMuxvEx
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 6, 2025
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