SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--L'Imperator, trained by Arch Kingsley, and Abaan, trained by Kate Dalton, lead a field of top steeplechase horses in the G1,$150,000, 2 3/8mile A.P. Smithwick Memorial on Wednesday, July 17 at Saratoga.

L'Imperator winning the Beverly Steinman (Photo by Tod Marks)Hudson River Farms’ L’Imperator, who won the G1 Beverly Steinman at Belmont at the Big A on June 20, will try to earn his second consecutive top-level victory in the Smithwick Memorial, while Abaan, who has won his last four races, including three stakes, will be trying for his first G1 victory.

Abann, ridden by Bernie Dalton, is the high weight at 158 pounds, with L'Imperator, with Jordan Gainford, the second high weight at 154 pounds.

Leipers Fork Steeplechasers’ Pickanumber with Jamie Bargary, will carry 152 pounds and makes his American debut for Leslie Young following a tremendous 15-length victory at odds of 22-1 in the 1 15/16-mile Swinton Handicap on May 11 at Haydock Park in Great Britain.

Pickanumber has won four of his last five outings, including a nine length win in a maiden race over hurdles in February.

Bruton Street-US’s Ziggle Pops, trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Graham Watters, carries 148 pounds and was third behind L'Impertor in the Steinman.

He won a handicap by 10 1/2 lengths two starts back going 2 3/4 miles on May 11 at Percy Warner.

 

COMPLETING the field are the G1-placed pair trained by Keri Brion; Freddy Flintshire ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, at 146 pounds and Going Country, ridden by Parker Hendriks, at 140 pounds,  and graded stakes-placed West Newton, trained by Ricky Hendriks and ridden by Harrison Beswick, at 144 pounds.

The Saratoga meet also features the G1 Jonathan Sheppard Memorial on Aug.14 and a pair of novice stakes in the Jonathan Kiser Memorial on July 31 and the Michael G. Walsh Memorial on Aug. 28.

“I love that New York and Saratoga showcases the talent and skills of steeplechasers,” said Kingsley. “This is what the real warhorses of the game look like. Thank you to NYRA for giving us these opportunities.”

L’Imperator was a G2 winner on the flat and is 9-for-10 in-the-money over jumps, including a dominant win at Saratoga last year in a 2 1/16-mile allowance by 8 3/4 lengths

“He’s so deserving of it,” Kingsley said of the gelding’s first G1 win. “He carries himself like a great champion, so I’m glad we got that officially inked on his resume. He certainly acts the part and looks the part and has the form to go with it. It’s very gratifying and when they make the transition from flat to jump, there’s no guarantee that form will translate. But he’s such a warrior and it translated like another extension of who he already was; more excellence in a different discipline.”

“He’s in fantastic order and had a little break at Burke Equine after the Steinman,” Kingsley said. “He got turned out and freshened up and has been back at the Oklahoma track for 10 days.”

One key to L’Imperator’s success over the jumps has been the addition of a special glue-on shoe that Kingsley said he will wear again on Wednesday.

“He’s got tender feet and we’re always managing them, but I’ve found a good partner in blacksmith Ian McKinlay – he has a patented red and black glue-on shoe that really seems to agree with L’Imperator, and he runs his best races when wearing those shoes,” said Kingsley. “He won’t come out of those shoes. He’ll wear those from here on.”

“I couldn’t be happier. A horse like him is such an incredible athlete,” Kingsley said. “Thoroughbreds are so tough, brave, strong and resilient, and it takes so much heart to be good at the game of steeplechasing.”

Kingsley, Jr. said he welcomes a rematch with Abaan.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Kingsley said. “That’s what makes good theater and good sport in this game is the best horses locking horns in a situation like this, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Daigneault Thoroughbreds’ Abaan makes his return to the races for the first time since May 11.

He was entered in the Steinman for its original date of June 9, but did not re-enter when the race was redrawn for June 20.

Abaan has won his last four starts, led by a three length victory in the Foxbrook Champion in October going 2 1/2 miles over yielding footing at Far Hills in which L’Imperator finished a distant third.

Abaan is nearly perfect since switching to the jumps last August, going 4-for-5 with his lone loss coming with a second in his hurdle debut.

He was a graded stakes winner going long on the flat, winning the 1 1/2-mile G3 William L. McKnight in 2022 at Gulfstream Park when trained by Todd Pletcher.

Abaan, who enters from a 2 3/4-length win in the 2 1/4-mile Green Pastures at Percy Warner, will be ridden by Bernard Dalton, who has been aboard for all five of his hurdle starts.

The A.P. Smithwick is the first of nine races on Wednesday’s program,with a  post time of 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports.