Optimus Prime Returns in Saratoga's A. P. Smithwick

When he has been good, Rosbrian Farm's Optimus Prime has been very, very good—hitting the board in all five of his races since he began racing in the United States in the midsummer of 2018. He has missed the winner's circle only once over that stretch, and his jockey would have liked to have that third-place finish back.

His races have been so good that he carries the highest rating among current National Steeplechase Association winners over hurdles and will be among the favorites for the $100,000 A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase Handicap (NSA-G1) at about 2 1/16 miles July 23 at Saratoga Race Course.

A slight morning-line favorite at 9-5 over 2-1 Moscato, he must overcome a long absence since his two victories in 2019, one over fences last May and a flat victory in a Parx Racing allowance for hurdlers last July.

Bruton Street-US's Moscato, coming off a runaway victory in the Middleburg Spring Races' Temple Gwathmey Handicap (NSA-G3) June 13, has an edge in recency. Moscato carries 156 pounds in the Smithwick to Optimus Prime's 158.

Formerly trained in England by Dan Skelton, Optimus Prime hit the ground running in the summer of 2018 and won the New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase Handicap (NSA-G1) at Saratoga for trainer Ricky Hendriks. He then finished third, beaten two lengths, in the Lonesome Glory Steeplechase Handicap (NSA-G1) at Belmont Park in September.

Although jockey Ross Geraghty believed he could have ridden a smarter race, few tears were shed in the Hendriks barn because the Lonesome Glory winner was Zanjabeel, who was partly owned by George and Mandy Mahoney's Rosbrian Farm. The Belmont win locked up Zanjabeel's Eclipse Award that year.

Optimus Prime made one more start in 2018, and he overpowered a good field in the International Gold Cup's David L. "Zeke" Ferguson Memorial Hurdle Stakes (NSA-G2) at Great Meadow Race Course in late October.

Hendriks put Optimus Prime away for the winter with visions of another Great Meadow start in the Virginia Gold Cup's David Semmes Memorial (NSA-G2) and then a flat run to tighten him for the Smithwick.

To a point, everything went according to plan. Optimus Prime scored the easiest of victories in the Semmes, with Geraghty barely shaking the reins to win as they pleased. At Parx, Optimus Prime took over at will and won under wraps.

The trip to Saratoga had to be canceled. Hendriks detected a suspensory problem developing and immediately stopped on him to avoid any permanent damage. The Pennsylvania-based trainer said Optimus Prime, now 8, has come back to form and schooled well over fences on Monday for his Thursday engagement. 

Darren Nagle, NSA champion jockey in 2017 and 2018, picked up the mount on Optimus Prime, while Geraghty will ride the upset winner of the 2019 Lonesome Glory, Surprising Soul, who is owned for Hendriks' mother, Wendy. 

Hendriks had been inclined to enter only Optimus Prime in the Smithwick, but when speed horses from the Temple Gwathmey did not show up in the Smithwick nominations, the trainer and his mother decided to enter.

"We didn't have that race in mind, but we decided to take a shot," he said.

In addition to Moscato, the Bruton Street partnership will field Pravalaguna, a former member of trainer Willie Mullins' powerful Irish stable. In her only U.S. start, she set all the pace in the Peapack Hurdle Stakes at the Far Hills Races last October and won easily.

Both Bruton Street hurdlers are trained by Jack Fisher, who has assumed his usual spot atop the standings after the COVID-19-compressed spring steeplechase season of 21 races at two race meets in June. Fisher will also saddle Riverdee Stable's Gibralfaro, winner of last fall's Ferguson Memorial.