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FEATURE STALLION JULY 3, 2006 Where there's Smoke, there's fire by Jordan Strickler A few years ago, I got to do a little sales prep work for Gainesway Farm. While I was there, I became interested in a sprinter sire named SMOKE GLACKEN (Two Punch). That's why I was happy to see Smok'n Frolic become a multiple graded-stakes winner, watch as Read the Footnotes captured the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) in 2004 and am now looking on with great interest as Carthage continues to dominate the Northern California sprinting ranks. The Art Sherman-trained Carthage won his fourth consecutive outing this year when he won the Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Sprint H. (G3) by a length over Churchill Downs H. (G2) hero Trickey Trevor (Demaloot Demashoot). On April 22, Carthage upset 2-5 favorite and reigning champion sprinter Lost in the Fog (Lost Soldier) by three lengths in the Golden Gate Fields Sprint S. The gray six-year-old also captured the San Carlos H. and Fairfax S. this season. Sherman claimed Carthage in September of 2004 for owners Phil Baneth and Tony Vitone, and the gelding has since won seven of 10 starts and earned $251,275. His career-total line reads 18-9-2-2, $308,935. One Smoke Glacken foal who looks to impress in the future is the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Afrashad, who came off a nearly two-year layoff to defeat allowance/optional claiming rivals by 4 3/4 lengths at Belmont Park on June 10, keeping his record perfect in two tries. He will be making his next start in the 8TH race at Monmouth Park on Tuesday versus allowance company. Smoke Glacken also produced the high seller at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June Two-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale on June 21, which sold to Joseph Brocklebank, agent, for $220,000. "People who breed to race like Smoke Glacken," said Michael Hernon, director of sales for Gainesway Farm. "He's not a baby, not a kid's passion. He's a man's man." Hernon describes the 12-year-old gray as a strong, good-feeling horse and said that Smoke Glacken's progeny inherit his will to win and a good source of soundness. "Seven out of 10 times (his progeny) will get his head down at the wire," said Hernon, describing the desire to succeed shown by Smoke Glacken's foals. Smoke Glacken was a speedy sort who would gun for the lead every time but, if he couldn't get the early advantage, still had the ability to rate before grabbing the lead at the earliest moment and often winning by open lengths. Trained by Henry Carroll, Smoke Glacken finished a close second in his career debut at Monmouth Park on June 30, 1996, over sloppy going to a juvenile named Confide, who would go on to win the Swale S. (G2) and Spectacular Bid S. (G3) the next year. Smoke Glacken captured his next three at Monmouth (defeating eventual Grade 2 hero and noted sire Partner's Hero), including the Sapling S. (G2), before winning the Hopeful S. (G1) by a dominant nine lengths over eventual Grade 1 winner Ordway. Facing defeat for only the second time in his next appearance when fifth in the one-mile Futurity S. (G1), Smoke Glacken would rebound in his next start while making his three-year-old debut against only two opponents to capture the Black Gold H. at Fair Grounds. Smoke Glacken's first loss as a sophomore would come four races into the season when running third in the 1 1/16-mile Louisiana Derby (G3). His next outing was a second to eventual Haskell Invitational H. (G1) winner Touch Gold. Smoke Glacken would get back to his winning ways when dominating the seven-furlong Riva Ridge S. (G3) by 3 1/4 lengths. His next two trips would also result in winner's circle pictures -- the Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup H. (G3) at Monmouth and the Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash (G2). For his efforts in 1997, he would win the Eclipse Award for champion sprinter as a three-year-old. The son of Two Punch is out of the winning mare Majesty's Crown (Magesterial), who has also produced the successful Smokey Glacken (Forestry), winner of four Grade 3 contests and whose most recent victory came in the Distaff Breeders' Cup H. (G2) at Aqueduct. Majesty's Crown's most recent addition to the track is Capote's Crown (Capote), who placed second in the Tempted S. (G3) her juvenile year and won the Queen of Song S. at Belmont Park in her most recent venture as a sophomore. Some of Smoke Glacken's most renowned offspring include 2001 Demoiselle S. (G2) and 2002 Cotillion H. (G2) heroine Smok'n Frolic, who has amassed more than $1.5 million in earnings; Read the Footnotes, who annexed the Remsen S. (G2) and Nashua S. (G3) in 2003 before capturing the Fountain of Youth the next year; last year's Tom Fool H. (G2) victor Smokume; Canadian Grade 2 hero Bachelor Blues; 2004 El Camino Real Derby (G3) winner Kilgowan; and Grade 3 victor More Smoke. As of this writing, Smoke Glacken has produced 192 winners from 258 starters from six crops, including 21 black-type victors, who have earned $19,335,574 in earnings. Smoke Glacken has averaged 115 mares over the last two years (that dropped slightly to 75 mares this past year) and we should have a lot more to look forward to from this sire. He currently stands at Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, for $30,000. "Everyone is looking for a racehorse, something to sell," Hernon explained. It seems those people have been looking at Smoke Glacken.
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