Get Smokin had by no means gained a race or ever even traveled past 1 1/16 miles in any race earlier than getting into the beginning gate for the Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence ‘Win and You are In’ 1 1/2-mile Grade 2 FanDuel Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes on Sept. 9 at Kentucky Downs. None of that mattered to the gelding, who rocketed to the lead, cruised free on a two-length benefit into the far flip, stepped into overdrive on the uphill climb to the wire, and dug-in for 1 3/4 size tally in a blinding gate-to-wire successful efficiency.
Guided by common pilot Fernando De La Cruz, Get Smokin ($41.14) hit the end line in 2:28.66 over a agency turf course. Spooky Channel acquired up for second over Santin, who had chased Get Smokin for many of the journey, in third.
“Going to the lead, that was the technique,” coach Mark Casse mentioned. “That is the way in which he runs. We felt we’d set up an enormous lead and hope that everybody else would assume he couldn’t go that far. Guess what? He did.”
Whereas a look on the previous performances for the $1.7 million Kentucky Turf Cup might have instructed a farfetched goal for 19-1 shot Get Smokin, co-owner Harlan Malter was satisfied this was the proper spot for his gutsy front-running gelding.
“(Get Smokin is) an absolute dream to personal. He simply lays it out for you each single time,” mentioned Malter, the managing companion of Ironhorse Racing Steady.
Get Smokin led all through early fractions of :24, :49.61, and 1:14.18. His victory earned him a visit to compete within the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park.
Gear Jockey discovered simply sufficient gears for jockey Jose Lezcano to get house a slender winner within the $1 million Ainsworth Turf Dash Sept. 9 at Kentucky Downs. It was his first victory since he gained the identical race two years earlier.
Gear Jockey, a 6-year-old son of Twirling Sweet, now could be 2-for-2 on the distinctive Kentucky Downs course. Because of a Breeders’ Cup Problem “Win and You are In” invitation, he is additionally primed for a second begin within the Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash this Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.
Lezcano hustled Gear Jockey out of the No. 9 gate and took station simply behind the early chief, Unhealthy Beat Brian, across the sweeping flip. Heading into the stretch, he gained a transparent lead after which was all out to hold onto it.
The favourite, One Timer, loomed the most important risk, closing sharply on the far exterior, however fell only a head quick in a blanket end involving seven horses, all inside 1 size of the winner. Unhealthy Beat Brian held third with the digicam putting Olympic Runner and Cogburn fourth and fifth.
Gear Jockey, educated by Rusty Arnold, completed the six furlongs on agency turf in 1:10.59, successful for the fifth time from 24 begins. — By Bob Kieckhefer
