Snow day: Get Smokin goes the distance in Grade 3 Valedictory
TORONTO, December 7, 2024 – Multiple graded stakes winner Get Smokin, under Sahin Civaci, wired his nine rivals in the Grade 3 $135,000 Valedictory Stakes, for 3-year-olds and up, Saturday at Woodbine.
Get Smokin, making his third appearance at Woodbine, was hustled to the lead in the 1 ½-mile main track test, as a host of other horses jockeyed for position in the early running on a snow-filled afternoon at the Toronto oval.
The 7-year-old gelding held a two-length advantage over Stanley House through an opening quarter reached in :25.57, with Dancin in Da’nile in third and Collective Force sitting fourth.
Get Smokin continued to roll along unbothered on the front end and was a length clear of Collective Force through a half in :50.77.
The Mark Casse trainee was a length on top and still rolling along confidently after a mile in 1:41.61, as closers, including Classic Mo Town, came calling ahead of the final turn.
Still full of run straightening for home, Get Smokin galloped away from his rivals down the lane. Ahead by 2 ½ lengths at Robert Geller’s stretch call, the chestnut sailed across the wire a 3 ¾-length winner in a time of 2:31.64. Classic Mo Town was second, Loose Wire, the 9-5 choice, was third, and Dancin in Da’nile finished fourth. Runaway Charlie was scratched.
It was the eighth career score (8-7-2 from 32 starts) for the son of Get Stormy out of the Smoke Glacken mare Hookah Lady, who came into the race with $2,074,278 in lifetime earnings.
“I thought I would actually have the lead, looking at the paper,” said Civaci, Woodbine’s leading rider in 2024. “If someone did pressure, I would’ve seen how fast the pace is going and made my move from there.
“It's very important going a mile or further that a horse is relaxed, and he's a very experienced and relaxed horse,” continued Civaci. “That really determines the race."
Get Smokin’s stakes success includes wins in the 2024 United Nations (G2), 2023 Kentucky Downs Turf Cup (G2), 2021 Seek Again, 2021 Tampa Bay Stakes (G3), and the 2020 Hill Prince (G2).
His racing passport includes starts at Belmont at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Del Mar, Ellis Park, Gulfstream Park, Keeneland, Kentucky Downs, Monmouth Park, Saratoga, and Tampa Bay Downs.
Bred in Kentucky, by Hurstland Farm, Inc. & James Greene Jr., Get Smokin is owned by Ironhorse Racing Stable, BlackRidge Stables, T-N-T Equine Holdings and Saratoga Sevens Racing Partners.
He was purchased for $11,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling sale.
Get Smokin paid $12.10 for today’s win.
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
