Last year, Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse had uncertain expectations when he entered Get Smokin in the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs. It was Harlan Malter from Ironhorse Racing Stable—co-owner of the horse along with several partners—who suggested taking a chance on the 1 1/2-mile race, a challenging distance that the son of Get Stormy had yet to tackle.
Despite the uncertainty, Get Smokin seized the lead and never looked back, delivering an impressive upset to finish first in the 11-horse field at 19-1 odds.
Now, Get Smokin is back in action. At 7 years old, he’s set to defend his title in the $2 million Turf Cup this Saturday. Despite his impressive past performance, the former champion is listed at 12-1 on the morning line, lacking considerable respect among the 12-horse lineup.
"He comes to play hard every time," Casse shared while driving with his wife Tina from Saratoga to Lexington. "We’re definitely confident."
This Saturday will mark Get Smokin’s 30th career start, with jockey Fernando De La Cruz in the saddle. He’s coming off a strong victory in the United Nations (G2) at Monmouth on July 20, which was only his second outing of 2024. Prior to that, he placed fourth in the Eclipse Stakes (G2) at Woodbine on June 1.
The Eclipse Stakes was his first race since last year's Turf Cup. Casse had initially planned to enter him in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita, but scrapped those plans when he was unsatisfied with Get Smokin’s training, opting instead to send him back to his farm in Ocala, Florida.
At the farm, Get Smokin underwent minor surgery on both front ankles that put him on the sidelines, but Casse remained confident that his resilient horse would return to competition.
"I never doubted it," Casse stated. "We handle situations like this regularly. Cindy Black, who heads the rehabilitation at our Training Center, has been with us for over 30 years and is exceptional. I felt pretty confident."
Casse is no stranger to guiding older horses to success. He currently trains an 8-year-old named Filo Di Arianna, who has won two consecutive Grade 2 races at Woodbine.
"The key is that we race them sparingly and allow them the necessary time," Casse explained. "I always say they’re like our kids— the longer you have them, the better they do."
As Get Smokin and De La Cruz prepare to head to the post on Saturday, their strategy will be clear: push to the front and run at full speed for as long as possible. Last year, this approach led them all the way to the winner’s circle.
This year, Casse is confident in his veteran racer’s capabilities without needing any persuasion from his owner. He anticipates a strong performance from Get Smokin.
"His last race (United Nations) was as good as any he’s ever had, especially considering it was his first race back after a seven-month layoff. He’s in great shape. He’s a happy horse."