SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Cyril Murphy saddled Belfast Banter to win the G1, $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Hurdle Stakes by 6 1/2 lengths over a pair of Keri Brion's entries, Historic Heart and Freddy Flintshire on Wednesday, July 19 at Saratoga.
Belfast Banter, ridden by a celebrating Barry Foley, won the Smithwick (Photo by Tod Marks)Irv Naylor's Belfast Banter, ridden by Bary Foley, ran near the back of the nine horse field for most of the 2 1/16 mile race, beginning to make a move on the backside,improving around the final turn and going into the lead in the stretch with a furlong to go and drawing away to win easily.
Belfast Banter was coming off finishing third in both the G2 David Semmes Memorial Handicap in May and the G2 Temple Gwathmey Handicap in April at Middleburg and benefited from a flip in the weights.
In the Smithwick, he carried 144 pounds to Histroic Heart's 148 and race favorite Freddy Flintshire's 148 pounds.
In the David Semmes, Belfast Banter had carried six pounds more than the winner Welshman and 10 more than second placed Gordon's Jet.
Murphy said a more even weight assignment to that of his familiar rivals helped lead him to victory in their rematch.
“I BELIEVED coming here, we would win, but I didn’t think he would do it like that,” said Murphy. “It gives you something to think about moving forward, but today was to be his day from my perspective.”
"We had some rain over the weekend that took a bit of the sting out of the grounds," said Murphy. "You learn to accept defeat, but you never get tired of winning."
Murphy won the Smithwick for the first time as a trainer, but he won it as a rider in 2003 on Anofferucantrefuse, trained by Tom Voss.
Foley, who won the first G1 of his 18-year riding career, said a weight advantage helped his mount have a better result at Saratoga than last year when he finished fourth in the G1 Jonathan Sheppard.
“Everything went according to plan," said Foley. "They ran a nice gallop and we traveled very, very true to rails. Jumped brilliantly and he made my life easy. He's had a couple of better runs in recent starts and he got a break at the weights today. He had a 14-pound spring for the two horses that were in front of him at the last, and I thought if he turns up, even halfway fair, he should be good enough to win.”
Belfast Banter ran back to his form in winning at Cheltenham and Aintree in 2021.
“In his overseas races, he was most successful when he had a strong, true-run race to sit behind and arrive there late,” said Murphy. “He’s one of those horses that flatters to deceive. As long as he’s traveling against you, you’re getting something. When you drop his head and let him off, he’s come to the end of his run. It was perfect just weaving between and keeping him covered and riding him like he was the best, and today he was.”
West Newton led over Gordon’s Jet with Historic Heart and a headstrong Welshman third and fourth for most of the race.
Historic Heart, ridden by Danny Mullins, and Freddy Flintshire, ridden by Parker Hendriks, along with the high-weighted Noah and the Ark passed tiring leaders on the turn to finish second, third and fourth respectively.
West Newton, Redicean, Gordon’s Jet, Salvino and Welshman completed the order of finish.
Noah and the Ark, trained by Todd McKenna, had acted up in the paddock, bucking off this rider Harry Beswick in the paddock and bucking on his way to the track before settling in the infield.
Murphy said Belfast Banter could go in the 2 1/2-mile Jonathan Sheppard on Aug. 16, depending on how he comes out of this race, and is also looking at the 2 3/8-mile G1 Lonesome Glory on Sept.14 at Belmont at the Big A.
“He ran here last year in the Sheppard and went to Aqueduct for the Lonesome Glory,” said Murphy. “I think he’s a horse that’s better with a bit of spacing. Is three weeks enough time? I’m not sure. But I do think 2 3/8 would suit him better than 2 1/2 the Lonesome Glory. We’ve got lots to think about, but we have time to think about it.”
Bred in Ireland by Seamus Cooney, Belfast Banter now has earnings of $324,103 with a lifetime record of five wins, seven seconds and five thirds from 29 starts.
Mullins, who came from Ireland to ride Historic Heart, said the son of Fracas was simply second best.
“He was solid," said Mullins. "I ended up a little closer to the pace than I initially thought I would be, but we weren't going that hard so I was happy there. He jumped well down the back and picked up off the bend. He ran a good race to be second. That's probably the first time Belfast Banter has ran to the form he showed at Aintree. So, a very solid run from my lad and hopefully we can find a race for him to win very soon.”
