by Bob Clippinger
A year ago, Bob Le Beau (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}) was the challenger. He was toting a feather, getting weight from the favorites in the G1 New York Turf Writers Cup, and was 6.20-to-1 in the win pool. He got a perfect trip around Saratoga Race Course, broke away from the field in the stretch, and won easily.
How things have changed in 12 months for The Fields Stable's Irish-bred. Now nine, he completed a sweep of the New York Racing Association's Grade 1 steeplechase races when he won the A. P. Smithwick Memorial on Aug. 4. He is the highweight in Thursday's edition of the New York Turf Writers, the centerpiece of Saratoga's jumps program, and at 162 pounds is giving away 12 pounds or more to his opponents. While he was the dark horse a year ago, on Thursday he will be the horse to beat, and he most likely will be odds-on in a small field.
Trained by Elizabeth Voss, Bob Le Beau has some advantages as he attempts a repeat victory in the 2 3/8-mile event. His biggest challenge will be the combination of weight, which is 22 pounds more than he carried last August, and the distance.
Among the advantages is Jack Doyle, the Irish-born and Irish-honed rider who has repeatedly shown that he deserves to be atop the jockey standings. Bob Le Beau has good flat speed, and he should relish the three-furlong run from the last fence on the backstretch to the finish line. He also prefers very firm turf, and each day without rain in Saratoga Springs improves his chances in this year's New York Turf Writers.
If he should falter, another Irish-bred, Scorpiancer (Ire) (Scorpion {Ire}), may be along to pick up the victory. Owned by Bruton Street-US and trained by Jack Fisher, Scorpiancer showed tenacity when he was overtaken in the Smithwick and then came back to finish a length behind Bob Le Beau. Connor Hankin, currently second in the jockey standings, will ride.
Fisher also will saddle Edith Dixon's enigmatic Schoodic (Tiznow), who usually is in the frame but wins only occasionally. He has a Saratoga win, back in 2014, and at the New York Turf Writers distance. He will be ridden by Sean McDermott.
Leading owner Irv Naylor and his principal trainer, Cyril Murphy, largely have sat out the summer season, but they will have a bona-fide threat in Charminster (Ire) (Broadway Flyer), who finally lived up to his potential with a Grade 2 win in Virginia in May. Third in last year's New York Turf Writers, Charminster again will be ridden by Ross Geraghty.
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