Smack Smack eyes Fayette Stakes

Trainer Don Von Hemel is having a bang-up meet at Remington Park, where he won the $175,000 Governor’s Cup with Smack Smack on Aug. 15 and the $75,225 Ricks Memorial with Ghost Locket on Sept. 27. Von Hemel, who through Sunday had an 8-for-21 record at the meet, also won the track’s allowance feature Oct. 7 with Prue. This has all been achieved with an eight-horse stable and in the trainer’s ninth decade.

“At 81, I’m proud to be here,” Von Hemel said. “I don’t mind everyone knowing [my age].”

Smack Smack won Remington’s major race for older horses in the Governor’s Cup and later ran third in the $175,000 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs. Von Hemel said the horse has remained at Churchill in the care of his son, Donnie Von Hemel, and is being considered for the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland. The race run on the undercard of Breeders’ Cup Friday is 1 1/8 miles, the same distance as the Governor’s Cup.

“That’s what he likes,” Don Von Hemel said. “We’re looking at the race. We’re thinking about it with him.”

Smack Smack races for the Dream Walkin’ Farms operation of country music artist Toby Keith. Ghost Locket does, too. She won for the fifth time in her last six starts in the Ricks Memorial.

“Right now, we’re kind of on hold with her, looking for a spot to run,” Von Hemel said. “They do have a race coming up later on at Zia Park.”

Prue won a first-level allowance race on turf last week with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 82. One start prior, he captured a maiden special weight race.

“We’re going to turn him out, save him for next spring and summer,” Von Hemel said of Prue. “He’s a 4-year-old, and all his pedigree has raced well at 4, 5, and 6 on the grass, so that’s what we’re planning on.”

Prue races for his breeder, Jico Inc. Von Hemel looks for the horse to return at Churchill.

Overall this year, Von Hemel is 20 for 61 for a 33 percent win rate.