A year ago, Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse didn’t know what to expect when he ran Take a smoke in the Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) at Kentucky Downs.
In fact, it was Harlan Malter of Ironhorse Racing Stable—whose owners include BlackRidge Stables, Saratoga Seven Racing Partners, and TNT Equine Holdings—who came up with the idea of putting Get Smokin in the 1 1/2-mile race. It was certainly uncharted waters, as the son of Get Stormy had never attempted it before.
That day, Get Smokin focused solely on the lead and never stopped, beating 12 other racehorses at odds of 19-1.
Get Smokin, now 7, is aiming to repeat the feat when he enters the $2 million Turf Cup on September 7. The former champion didn’t get much respect in the morning as he was listed as 12-1 of 11 entrants.
“He comes in and plays his heart out every time,” Casse said by phone as he and his wife Tina drove from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to Lexington this week. “We’re definitely confident.”
Get Smokin will be making his 30th career start and will be ridden by Fernando De La Cruz. He has prepared for this by winning the United Nations Stakes (G2T) at Monmouth Park July 20, his second start of 2024. Previously, he finished fourth in the Eclipse Stakes (G2) at Honeysuckle June 1
Eclipse is his first start since last year’s Turf Cup. Plans are to run in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Parkwhich he won an automatic entry into the Turf Cup as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, was canceled when Casse did not like the way Get Smokin trained him and sent him back to his farm in Ocala, Fla.
It was there that the gelding underwent minor surgery on both front ankles, which put him on the disabled list. Meanwhile, Casse remains confident that his stallion will return to the track.
“There was never any doubt about it,” he said. “We’ve always dealt with it. Cindy Black (head of rehabilitation at the Casse Training Center) has been with us for over 30 years and has done a great job. I’m pretty confident.”
Having excellent older horses in the stable is nothing new to Casse. He has an 8-year-old horse, Filo Di Arianna who won two consecutive Grade 2 races at Woodbine.
“The key to it is we have to run them sparingly, we have to give them time,” Casse said. “I always say they are our children and, the longer you have them around…”
When Get Smokin and De La Cruz head to the finish line on Saturday, there will be no secrets. They’ll lead the way and run as fast and as far as they can. Last year, they ran all the way to the victory circle.
This year, Casse didn’t need his owner to urge him to try the venue. He hopes his old horse will run a big race.
“His last race (UN) was as good as any he’s ever run,” said Casse, “especially since he’d only run once before that in seven months. He was very good. He’s a fun horse.”
This press release has been edited for content and style by the BloodHorse team.
