Voodoo Song in Search of Forbidden Apple Repeat

Barry Schwartz's Voodoo Song is entered to defend his title in the $150,000 Forbidden Apple Stakes (G3T) July 12 at Saratoga Race Course. The Friday feature for 4-year-olds and up going a mile on the turf will mark his first start since running in the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) in early October at Keeneland.

With Saratoga's new schedule allowing two dark days a week through 40 days of racing, the Forbidden Apple has switched from Belmont Park's lawn to the Spa's for this year's edition.

Two summers ago, Linda Rice conditioned Voodoo Song to four consecutive wins at Saratoga. The New York-bred son of English Channel  went from starting for a $40,000 tag to picking up his first black-type score in the Saranac Sakes (G3T).

Voodoo Song scored his second stakes victory in last year's Forbidden Apple, then returned four weeks later for a frontrunning neck victory in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga. He then finished fifth in the Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2T) and 12th in the Turf Mile.

The 5-year-old has been working consistently at Belmont since early June. On July 7, he clocked five furlongs on the inner turf in 1:00 4/5.

"I was pleased with his work," Rice said. "We have been trying to have him ready for this race, but (I) was concerned because he was a little heavy. But his work was very encouraging."

Along with Voodoo Song, Offering Plan, March to the Arch, Mr Havercamp, and Doctor Mounty will carry top weight of 124 pounds.

Michael Dubb, Nantucket Thoroughbred Partners, Bethlehem Stables, and Gary Aisquith's Offering Plan rallied to third in last year's Forbidden Apple, beaten 1 1/4 lengths. He is a multiple stakes winner against New York-breds the past two seasons and turned in two show efforts to start his 7-year-old campaign.

March to the Arch, a Florida homebred for Live Oak Plantation, has won two stakes in three starts this year, rallying to a neck victory in the June 15 Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs to earn his first graded score. He has run once at a mile and finished off the board.

Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry's homebred Mr Havercamp is another entry using the Forbidden Apple as his 5-year-old debut. After defeating other Canadian-breds in stakes company, Mr Havercamp stepped up to win the Play the King Stakes (G2T) on yielding turf in August at Woodbine, ran second throughout in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T), then came back a winner in the Autumn Stakes (G2) on Tapeta. Most recently, he ran 13th in the Dec. 15 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park.

Larry Pratt and Dave Alden's Doctor Mounty will be making the sixth start of 2019. The 6-year-old has already scored rallying victories this season in Gulfstream's Jan. 12 Tropical Turf Stakes (G3T) and Laurel Park's June 16 Prince George's County Stakes.

Rounding out the 10 entries are Qurbaan, last year's Bernard Baruch winner and runner-up to Bricks and Mortar in the Old Forester Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) two starts back; Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap winner First Premio; Gidu, a two-time stakes winner last spring and last-out allowance optional claiming winner; grade 2 winner Hembree, second in his past two starts; and grade 2 winner Made You Look, who has not run since August.

Entries: Forbidden Apple S. (G3T)

Saratoga Race Course, Friday, July 12, 2019, Race 9

• Grade III
• 1m
• Inner turf
• $150,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 5:51 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Gidu (IRE)	Manuel Franco	120	Todd A. Pletcher	12/1
2	2First Premio (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	122	Mark E. Casse	10/1
3	3Hembree (KY)	Luis Saez	118	Michael J. Maker	8/1
4	4Offering Plan (NY)	Javier Castellano	124	Chad C. Brown	6/1
5	5March to the Arch (FL)	Tyler Gaffalione	124	Mark E. Casse	6/1
6	6Made You Look (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	Chad C. Brown	4/1
7	7Voodoo Song (NY)	Jose Lezcano	124	Linda Rice	3/1
8	8Qurbaan (KY)	Joel Rosario	122	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	6/1
9	9Mr Havercamp (ON)	Junior Alvarado	124	Catherine Day Phillips	15/1
10	10Doctor Mounty (KY)	John R. Velazquez	124	Claude R. McGaughey III	15/1