All Eyes on Trio of Newcomers in Smithwick

Saratoga Race Course is the logical jumping-off place for hurdlers imported to compete in the National Steeplechase Association's summer-fall championship races, and three newcomers will make their debuts July 25 in the $150,000 A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase Stakes (NSA-G1).

They will be the horses to watch in a field of 13 (including one on the also-eligible list) entered in the 2 1/16-mile Smithwick, which lost its marquee nominee, Rosbrian Farm's Optimus Prime, to a training injury that will keep him on the sidelines the rest of the year.

Hurdlers and steeplechase horses are graded by expert handicappers overseas and the United States. The top rank heading into the Smithwick is Irvin S. Naylor's Bedrock, who carries a 157 rating as well as the race's 154-pound highweight. Trained by Leslie Young, 6-year-old Bedrock closed out the overseas phase of his career for trainer Iain Jardine with back-to-back stakes victories in Ireland last fall. Sean McDermott will ride Thursday.

Naylor also will be represented by Sempre Medici, who is trained by Cyril Murphy and has been chasing Optimus Prime, finishing second in the Virginia Gold Cup's David Semmes Memorial (NSA-G2) May 4.

Jack Fisher, who is making a shambles of the trainer standings as he already has 25 wins this year, will saddle the other two newcomers. 

Foxtrot  NH Racing Partnership's Vosne Romanee won an Ascot handicap stakes last fall and will have his regular jockey, Sam Twiston-Davies, in the saddle.

The trainer's other newcomer is Gill Johnston's Peppay Le Pugh, a six-time winner over fences, most recently in modest-level handicaps. Top Irish jump jockey Danny Mullins has the mount.

Also from Fisher's Maryland barn is Riverdee Stable's Gibralfaro, who won the $100,000 Queen's Cup MPC Chase for novices April 27 but was overmatched two weeks later in the $150,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois (NSA-G1). Michael Mitchell, who has a sizable lead in the year's jockey standings, has the mount.

Hudson River Farms' Winston C will be making only his second U.S. start for Racing Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard. The 5-year-old closed from far back to finish third in a novice stakes on the Iroquois card. Sheppard also will saddle Buttonwood Farm's All the Way Jose, winner of the 2017 Lonesome Glory Handicap (NSA-G1) at Belmont Park and now on the comeback trail.

Also seeking to make a comeback is Mark W. Buyck Jr.'s Show Court, who is winless over fences since upsetting last year's Smithwick at 14-1. Show Court finished fourth in Fair Hill's Valentine Memorial Handicap, which was won by Robert A. Kinsley's No Wunder. Trained by Elizabeth Voss, No Wunder will attempt to step up in class in the Smithwick.

Voss also will saddle Kinsley's Modem, who is coming back after finishing sixth in last year's Smithwick. Blanked in the U.S., the 9-year-old finished second in five consecutive top-ranked races, beginning with his stateside debut in the 2017 Smithwick.