SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Moscato and Optimus Prime, the 1-2 finishers of last month's G1 A. P. Smithwick Memorial, will meet again Thursday's G1, $100,000 New York Turf Writers Cup steeplechase at Saratoga Race Course while Snap Decision looks like a runaway victor in the Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes on Wednesday.

Moscato edges Optimus Prime in the Smithwick (Photo by Tod Marks)Less than a length separated Moscata and Optimus Prime at the finish line of the 2 1/16-mile Smithwick on July 23 at the Spa.

The pair, who each carry a field-high 160 pounds, will stretch out to 2 3/8-miles in Thursday's test.

Moscato, a 9-year-old Hernando gelding trained by Jack Fisher for Bruton Street-US, made a winning return to racing last season in the G3 Temple Gwathmey Hurdle Handicap at Glenwood Park at Middleburg after missing his entire 2018 campaign.

 

THE CONSISTENT grey boasts a record of 33-12-7-3 and is a perfect 2-for-2 this year including a successful title defense of the Temple Gwathmey Hurdle Handicap in June to open his campaign.

Fisher said the talented Moscato's record could boast even more wins with a bit of racing luck.

"I think he's had a bit of bad luck in the past," said Fisher. "There's a couple of races I thought he should have won but he got stopped or something happened. The race set up well for him last time, but he's a nice horse. He won going two miles at Royal Ascot and he's a true stayer."

In the Smithwick, under Mikey Mitchell who rides him again in the Turf Writers, Moscato rallied five-wide down the lane and overtook a game and determined Optimus Prime for a three-quarter length score.

Fisher said the added distance on Thursday will suit Moscato.

"I think he'll enjoy the added distance," said Fisher. "In the Smithwick, I thought he was beaten in the stretch. I just hope that Optimus Prime didn't need the race. I thought we were going to be fourth turning for home."

Fisher will also be represented by 2019 New York Turf Writers Cup runner-up Gibralfaro riden by Sean McDermott, who was third in the Smithwick and also last year's G2 David L. Ferguson Memorial Handicap winner; and Pravalaguna , ridden by Kieran Norris, who will make her third start in North America after being eased last out in the Smithwick.

"Gibralfaro was second in the Turf Writers last yea, and he's just a hard-trying horse," said Fisher. "He's not the most talented but he makes up for it with his perseverance and try. You have to love a horse like that."

"It was never the plan to run Pravalaguna at Saratoga," said Fisher. "She's a bigger, heavier horse and I thought we'd wait until the fall, but now Far Hills isn't going to run. She wasn't quite ready for the last race, but I think she'll enjoy the distance this time."

Rosbrian Farm's Optimus Prime, an 8-year-old Deportivo gelding trained by Richard Hendriks, won the 2018 New York Turf Writers Cup in his North American debut.

He went on to win three of his next four starts including G2 scores at Great Meadow in the 2018 David L. Ferguson Memorial Handicap and 2019 David Semmes Memorial Hurdle Handicap.

Optimus Prime, who will again have the services of Darren Nagle, entered the Smithwick off a one-year-layoff and was brave in defeat after emerging with the lead at the stretch call and battling strong to the wire under pressure.

Hendriks will also send out multiple G1 winner Zanjabeel for his second start of the season.

The 7-year-old Aussie Rules gelding, owned by Rosbrian Farm and Meadow Run Farm, closed out his 2018 campaign with G1 wins in the Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle at Percy Warner and the Lonesome Glory Handicap at Belmont Park.

Zanjabeel finished fourth in this lone start last season in the G2 David L. Ferguson Memorial Handicap at Great Meadow and was eased last out in the G3 Temple Gwathmey Hurdle Handicap won by Moscato in June.

Ross Geraghty, aboard for the Iroquois score, returns to the irons Thursday.

Leslie Young will saddle the promising pair of Rashaa, ridden by Thomas Garner, in search of his first North American win in his fourth attempt, and Redicean under Gerard Galligan, who captured the 2019 Jonathan Kiser Novice at the Spa and was fourth last out in the Smithwick.

Rounding out the field is the Kate Dalton-conditioned Belisariu, ridden by  Bernie Dalton, who finished fifth last out in the Jonathan Kiser Novice on July 22 at the Spa.

The G1 New York Turf Writers Cup is slated as Race 1 on Thursday's nine-race card, with a first post of 12:50 p.m.

 

FISHER has a daunting pair entered in the $55,000 Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

Snap Decision, owned by Bruton Street-US, has won six straight steeplechase races, including four stakes, while Fast Car, owned by Robert LaPenta has won his last two races, including an allowance at Saratoga.

Fisher also has City Dreamer entered in the Walsh.

Ranged against this powerful duo are two trained by Jonathan Sheppard, Galway Kid, who has won twice and was second to Snap Decision in the Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes at Saratoga and Go Get the Basil, and two trained by Ricky Hendriks, Zanzi Win and Duc de Moran, who is making his first start in this country after winning five times in France.

The field is rounded out by Belisarius, trained by Kate Dalton, and Family Tree, trained by Neil Morris.