Connections Hope for More Spa Magic From Voodoo Song
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Arianna Spadoni
Voodoo Song would not be caught in the Fourstardave Handicap Aug. 11 at Saratoga Race Course
In August owner Barry Schwartz picked up his first Saratoga Race Course grade 1 win when Voodoo Song scored a front-running victory in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T).
With the Saratoga meet winding down, trainer Linda Rice and Schwartz opted to enter the homebred in what's scheduled to be the meet's final turf stakes race of the season, the $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2T) Sept. 3. Based on Voodoo Song's record at Saratoga, it makes perfect sense to aim for another stakes score at the meet.
Angst: Voodoo Song Speeds to Fourstardave Upset
Voodoo Song has won all five of his previous starts on either the inner turf or Mellon Course at Saratoga, a stretch that began with a claiming race score July 22, 2017. The son of 2007 champion grass horse English Channel would go on to win three more starts at last year's Saratoga meeting, including a victory in the Saranac Stakes (G3T) on the meet's final weekend.
This year New York-bred Voodoo Song captured the Fourstardave on the Saratoga inner course in his first start at the meet. In that race Voodoo Song opened a five-length advantage early but would be tested in the stretch, where he would dig in to hold off Delta Prince by a neck. On Monday, Voodoo Song will return to the Mellon Course for the 1 1/16-mile Fourstardave, where he'll start from the rail as the highweight at 122 pounds.
"Last year, he ran four times and won four, but this year we've given him more time between races," Rice said. "He clearly deserves it and he's performed well that way.
Should all go to plan, Rice envisions following Monday's race with a start in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T) in October at Keeneland followed by a start in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T).
In Monday's expected field of six, Pin Oak Stable will send out a homebred in Synchrony. Trained by Michael Stidham, Synchrony will try to secure his fourth graded stakes win of the season and enters off a 2 1/4-length victory in the Oceanport Stakes (G3T) July 29 on the Monmouth Park turf.
The expected field also features three of the top four finishers of the Aug. 11 Lure Stakes on the Mellon Course in winner Inspector Lynley, runner-up Projected, and fourth-place finisher Forge.
Rounding out the field is Qurbaan, a stakes winner for Shadwell Stable who will make his U.S. debut.
Saratoga Race Course, Monday, September 03, 2018, Race 9Entries: Bernard Baruch H. (G2T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Voodoo Song (NY)
Jose Lezcano
122
Linda Rice
1/1
2
2Projected (GB)
Javier Castellano
118
Chad C. Brown
9/2
3
3Forge (GB)
Manuel Franco
115
William I. Mott
10/1
4
4Synchrony (KY)
Joel Rosario
120
Michael Stidham
3/1
5
5Inspector Lynley (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
119
Claude R. McGaughey III
4/1
6
6Qurbaan (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
117
Kiaran P. McLaughlin
12/1
