Champion sprinter Smoke Glacken dead at 22
Gainesway Farm has announced the passing of 1997 champion sprinter and successful sire Smoke Glacken. The 22-year-old gray son of Two Punch was humanely euthanized April 21 because of the infirmities of old age. Smoke Glacken had been pensioned from stud duty since 2013 and continued to receive full daily care at Gainesway's stallion division until his death.
Bred in Maryland by Perry M. Rosebrock from the Magesterial mare Majesty's Crown, Smoke Glacken was a $65,000 purchase out of the 1996 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic two-year-old sale by trainer Henry Carroll, agent. Carroll would train the colt for owners Alex Karkenny, William Roberts, and Robert Levy.
Smoke Glacken provided an immediate return on his purchase price. The colt swept Monmouth Park's pair of juvenile features -- the Tyro and Sapling (G2) -- before shipping to Saratoga, where he dominated the prestigious Hopeful (G1) by nine lengths.
At three, Smoke Glacken won six of eight starts, including the Southwest (G3), Riva Ridge (G3), and Jersey Shore (G3) against fellow three-year-olds, and the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G2), where Smoke Glacken defeated older horses and confirmed his reputation as the fastest horse in North America. He was later honored with the Eclipse Award as the year's champion sprinter.
Smoke Glacken entered stud at Gainesway in 1998 and went on to sire 58 stakes winners and 16 graded stakes winners. His top progeny include two-time Grade 1 winner On Fire Baby; Spinaway (G1) winner Irish Smoke; and Personal Ensign (G1) winner Persistently. Smoke Glacken also sired multiple graded stakes winners Smok'n Frolic and Delaunay, both millionaires, Read the Footnotes, and Smokey Fire. Smoke Glacken's lifetime progeny earnings stand at $53,341,566 through April 20.
As a broodmare sire, Smoke Glacken has been represented by the Canadian champions Hunters Bay and Go Greeley and Dubai Group 2 winner L'Amour de Ma Vie.
"Smoke Glacken was a tough, fast racehorse and he sired competitive horses like himself," Gainesway president Antony Beck said. "We were very fortunate to stand him here at Gainesway. He was part of our family for 18 years and he will be missed."
Smoke Glacken will be buried at Gainesway alongside former stallions In Reality, Cozzene, Broad Brush, and Mr. Greeley.
(NYRA/Coglianese)
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