Get Smokin Leads All the Way in United Nations

The whole world could see what Get Smokin was going to do in the United Nations Stakes (G2T) July 20 at Monmouth Park—go to the front and try to hang on. He did and he could, but just barely. After showing the way, Get Smokin just did survive a late rail bid by long shot Grand Sonata to win by a nose. Tawny Port, who raced second but well behind the leader through most of the race, hung on for third, a head farther back. Get Smokin, a 7-year-old Get Stormy gelding, had a page full of "aces" on his past performance page, showing one race after another in which he'd set the pace. The only question was his stamina, particularly as the United Nations was contested at 1 3/8 miles, which is not Get Smokin's forte. In his previous start, he led most of the way in the Eclipse Stakes (G2) on the Woodbine all-weather course but faded at the end of that 1 1/16 miles to finish fourth. He did win the Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) at 1 1/2 miles at Kentucky Downs last September but that race was over a unique, undulating course and Get Smokin was left alone on the lead throughout. The same scenario ultimately played out at Monmouth, thanks in part to the scratch of the other potential speed factor in the United Nations, So High (GB). With that one out of the race, jockey Fernando De La Cruz got Get Smokin out cleanly as the field started midway down the backstretch. No one went with him and, lacking any pressure, Get Smokin galloped along at a steady clip, clocking a quarter-mile in :23.54, half-mile in :47.86, and six furlongs in 1:11.74. "I knew I was the pace; he was the clear cut," said De La Cruz. "We needed to put him on the lead. That's how he won at Kentucky Downs so it was the same plan here today." He held the lead around the third turn into the stretch as Javier Castellano was gearing up Grand Sonata along the inside. Closing steadily, the 5-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro got to even terms with the longtime leader with a powerful late rail run but could not put him away, losing in a head-bobbing finish. The timer stopped at 2:12.57. "It was a little nerve-wracking," trainer Mark Casse said of the gelding's close-as-nails performance. "I thought we got beat... They’re going to stop letting him on the lead. We had a one-race plan (the Eclipse) and then to come here. It worked, and it seldom does. What a nice horse." Owned by BlackRidge Stables, Ironhorse Racing Stable, Saratoga Seven Racing Partners, and T-N-T Equine Holdings, Get Smokin was bred in Kentucky by Hurstland Farm and James Greene Jr. He was produced by the Smoke Glacken mare Hookah Lady. The United Nations was his fourth graded stakes win in his 29th career start along with runner-up finishes in six others.