Voodoo Song Speeds to Fourstardave Upset
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Voodoo Song and Jose Lezcano take the Fourstardave at Saratoga Race Course
Just more than a year ago when Voodoo Song was entered in a $40,000 claiming race, owner Barry Schwartz would have never guessed the homebred would be his first Saratoga Race Course grade 1 winner.
But things have changed since that July 22, 2017, race at Saratoga as Schwartz found himself leading his New York-bred son of English Channel into the winner's circle Aug. 11 following a frontrunning score in the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (G1T).
"The TV blacked out (at) about the eighth pole—I was watching it really closely," said the former New York Racing Association chairman and CEO. "I had to go to the board and then pick up the binoculars. But what a great feeling. I've won a lot of stakes, including here, and I've won grade 1s around the country, but never a grade 1 here at Saratoga. It's the first one."
That temporary blackout came at an inopportune time. After enjoying a clear lead early, Voodoo Song was put to the test with a three-wide rally by Delta Prince. But when engaged, Voodoo Song found one more gear under Jose Lezcano to hold off his rival by a neck.
"I was thrilled with him in the stretch. He just dug in and wouldn't be denied," said winning trainer Linda Rice, who noted Voodoo Song has always been competitive. "That's very typical of him in his previous races. It's amazing."
Rice noted three starts ago in a seven-furlong optional-claiming allowance race on the Belmont Park turf, Voodoo Song went a half-mile in :44.64 but still found enough to post a nose victory.
"A lot of horses, unless they're a turf sprinter, would have given up," Rice said. "But not this horse. He does not give it up."
That grittiness would prove useful in his first grade 1 win. Before the late-race drama, Voodoo Song surged to the lead from post 6 under Lezcano and opened a 3 1/2-length advantage over Heart to Heart through a quarter-mile in :23.53 on the inner turf, listed as good. Voodoo Song built his advantage to five lengths through a half-mile in :46.89, a fraction that made Rice a bit nervous on the wet turf, but she also liked that he looked comfortable.
In the turn, the five rivals began to move closer, but Voodoo Song maintained his clear edge into the stretch, where Delta Prince launched his run that came up just short. Carrying 118 pounds, Voodoo Song completed the one-mile race in 1:35.96.
"He's fast out of the gate, and you always want to let him do whatever he wants to do," Lezcano said. "That's the thing with him, and he keeps going. I leave him alone; you don't want to fight with him. The longer you leave him in the bridle, the better he is. I felt confident all the way around. Let him do whatever he wants to do."
Voodoo Song improved to four wins in as many starts on the Saratoga inner turf. His love for that course and Saratoga overall—five wins in as many starts—began to show itself in that claiming race last July, when he scored by 5 1/4 lengths. He followed with two more wins against state-breds in allowance races on the inner turf before returning to open company to secure his first stakes win in the Saranac Stakes (G3T) on the turf at the Spa.
"Who better to win the Fourstardave than a horse who is a Saratoga star?" Schwartz said.
Voodoo Song enjoyed some luck as well. He was initially entered in the Aug. 4 Fasig-Tipton Lure Stakes, but that race was postponed to Aug. 11 after heavy rain. They could have stayed in the Lure, but Schwartz nudged Rice toward the Fourstardave.
"As a trainer, I'm always looking to keep myself in the best company and my horses in the worst," Rice said. "It didn't take much (encouragement). I knew it's what Barry wanted to do. I was for it as well."
Voodoo Song paid $15.40, $6.60, and $4.60, and Delta Prince returned $4.30 and $3.30. Divisidero was another two lengths back in third and paid $4.90. Yoshida, the 9-5 favorite, never seriously threatened and finished fifth.
Rice said she hasn't decided on a next start for Voodoo Song, who completed a sweep by New York-breds of the graded stakes on Saturday's card. Earlier in the day, Sue's Fortune won the Adirondack Stakes (G2).