By Christie DeBernardis
The top two finishers from Saratoga's Aug. 4 GII Hall of Fame S., Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway) and Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), headline a competitive field for Saturday's GIII Saranac S. Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's undefeated Bricks and Mortar won his debut at Gulfstream Feb. 18 and was briefly shelved, but returned a winner in a first-level optional claimer at Belmont June 9. A narrow winner of that venue's Manila S. July 4, the Chad Brown pupil bested Yoshida by 3/4 of a length in the Hall of Fame last time.
Yoshida was tabbed a “TDN Rising Star” after an impressive second-out graduation at Keeneland Apr. 9 for Hall of Famer Bill Mott. Repeating that effort in Pimlico's James W. Murphy S. May 20, he was fifth behind Oscar Performance (Kitten's Joy) as the favorite in the GI Belmont Derby July 8 prior to his last out effort over this course.
Making his stakes debut in this spot is a colt that has proven to be a true “horse for the course,” Barry Schwartz homebred Voodoo Song (English Channel). The chestnut is a perfect three-for-three over the local lawn since transferring to Linda Rice after the retirement of Mike Hushion in July. Romping in a $40,000 claimer July 22, Voodoo Song returned on just four days rest to capture a 1 3/8-mile state-bred allowance and followed suit with an optional claimer victory against fellow Empire-breds Aug. 23. Click here for an “In Sharper Focus” on Voodoo Song and his connections.
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