SARATOGA, N.Y.--The first two steeplechase races at Saratoga, both stakes, will be held Wednesday and Thursday, July 22 and 23, with Jack Fisher, Ricky Hendriks and Jonathan Sheppard, the top three trainers over the past couple of years, holding strong hands.
Bruton Street-US' Snap Decision, trained by Fisher, is the odds on favorite to win the $55,000, 2 1/16 mile Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes on Wednesday over Brous Stable LLC's Belisarius (Ire), trained by Kate Dalton, and Hudson River Farms' Galway Kid (Ire), trained by Sheppard.
Bred by the Phipps Stable, Snap Decision was stakes placed on the flat as a 3-year-old, and most recently won the 2 1/8 mile David Semmes Memorial Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths against open company at the Virginia Gold Cup on June 27.
With the last fence having been takes out at Saratoga in an effort to eliminate falls in front of the grandstand as horses raced towards the wire, it seems that with Snap Decision's speed as a flat stakes winner, he should be a shoo-in in this race.
Belisarius has been running against open company, most recently finishing second to Bruton Street-US' Moscato (GB) in the Temple Gwathmey at Middleburg on June 13.
Galway Kid, a 5-year-old, has run just three times with two wins, most recently in an allowance race at Middleburg on June 13.
Also entered are City Dreamer (Ire), trained by Fisher, Bodes Well, trained by Leslie Young, Family Tree, trained by Neil Morris, and Zanzi Win (Fr), trained by Hendriks.
HENDRIKS has the slight favorite and fourth favorite in the $100,000, G1, 2 1/16 mile A.P. Smithwick on Thursday, while Fisher has the second and third favorites.
The Sheppard-trained Winston C, who won both the Smithwick and the New York Turf Writers last year, is out of both races.
"Winston C had a minor setback and is out for both Saratoga races," said Sheppard. "Hopefully, he'll make it back for the fall races."
With Winston C on the sidelines, this year's Smithwick appears to be a hugely competitive race.
Rosbrian Farm's Optimus Prime, trained by Hendriks is the slight favorite and the high weight at 158 pounds, despite the fact that he hasn't run since winning the David Semmes Memorial at the Gold Cup in May of 2019.
Optimus Prime won the Turf Writers in 2017, but in the Smithwick he comes up against a pair of top horses owned by Bruton Street-US and trained by Fisher in Moscato, second favorite and second high weight at 156, and Pravalaguna (Fr).
Pravalaguna, weighted at 147, is also making her first start this year in the Smithwick after winning the Peapack Hurdle Stakes for fillies and mares at Far Hills last October.
While Optimus Prime is the morning line favorite, with three top Fisher-trained horses against him as well as being the topweight without a prep race under his belt, the 158 pounds through the very long stretch after the last fence may be a reach too far.
Hendriks will also saddle his mother Wendy's Surprising Soul (On), 148 pounds, who won the Lonesome Glory last fall.
Fisher also has Riverdee Stable's Gibralfaro (Ire), 142 pounds, who won last fall's Ferguson Memorial.
Also entered are Belisaris, 140 pounds, who is cross-entered in the Kiser on Wednesay, Redicean, 144 pounds,, trained by Young, Chief Justice (GB), 142 pounds, trained by Cyril Murphy, and Winner Massagot (Fr), 140 pounds, trained by Richard Valentine.