Already a perfect four-for-four over the Saratoga sod thanks to a perfect 2017 meet, Voodoo Song landed a front-running career high Saturday in his return to the Spa. Hard-ridden to beat MGISW Heart to Heart (English Channel) to the front into the first turn, the chestnut built up a sizable advantage down the backside with Heart to Heart close to as clear of the rest of the field. He started to come back to his competition after six furlongs in 1:11.20, but dug in under right-handed urging to open back up a bit into the lane. Delta Prince appeared almost certain to run by the pacesetter as he emerged from the pack of challengers in midsstretch, but he just couldn't finish off Voodoo Song as that one stiff-armed his foe to the line.
“He's fast out of the gate and you always want to let him do whatever he wants to do,” said winning rider Jose Lezcano. “That's the thing with him, and he keeps going. I leave him alone, you don't want to fight with him. The longer you leave him in the bridle, the better he is. I felt confident all the way around. Let him do whatever he wants to do.”
Of the close finish, Lezcano added, “I waited on the inside closer to the rail and when I saw [Delta Prince], I came outside a little bit, so he could see him and he rebroke again. He kept going and wouldn't let him pass.”
Transferred to Linda Rice from the retiring Mike Hushion last year, Voodoo Song resurfaced for his new barn a 5 1/4-length winner of a $40,000 claimer here last July before wheeling back in four days to add a first-level state-bred allowance going 11 furlongs. He cleared his next New York-bred condition a month later, and added the GIII Saranac S. over Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) on another quick turnaround on closing day. Voodoo Song went winless in his next three tries, but returned to winning ways in a Belmont optional claimer over seven furlongs May 12. He was third in the GIII Poker S. June 17 before running away with the Forbidden Apple S. downstate July 14.
“It's very exciting,” Rice said. “It's hard to move up on what he did last year here with winning four races. It was an unbelievable meet and so special to all of us. I think he got a lot of fans here by winning so many races at Saratoga, so it's so exciting to come back. What do you do next? Win the Fourstardave. It's just fantastic.”
She noted, “[Owner] Barry [Schwartz] wanted to run in the Fourstardave all along. It didn't take much convincing. I knew that's what Barry wanted to do, so I was for it as well. I'm so thrilled for [the owners]. They bred this horse in New York for Stonewall Farm. This is their first Grade I victory at Saratoga. I'm thrilled for them.”
Saturday, Saratoga
FOURSTARDAVE H.-GI, $513,750, Saratoga, 8-11, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:35.96, gd.
1–VOODOO SONG, 118, c, 4, by English Channel
1st Dam: Mystic Chant (SW), by Unbridled's Song
2nd Dam: Mystic Rhythms, by Citidancer
3rd Dam: Timeandaword, by Robellino
1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Barry K. Schwartz; B-Stonewall Farm
(NY); T-Linda Rice; J-Jose Lezcano. $288,750. Lifetime Record:
16-8-2-1, $870,435. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. [bullet ad=”boutte-training-graduate”]2–Delta Prince, 118, h, 5, Street Cry (Ire)–Delta Princess, by A.P.
Indy. 'TDN Rising Star' O-Stronach Stables; B-Adena Springs
(KY); T-James A. Jerkens. $100,000.[bullet ad=”adena-bred-only”]3–Divisidero, 119, h, 6, Kitten's Joy–Madame Du Lac, by Lemon
Drop Kid. ($250,000 Ylg '13 KEESEP). O-Gunpowder Farms LLC;
B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-Kelly Rubley. $60,000.[bullet ad=”hinkle-farms-bred-raised-sold”][bullet ad=”selected-by-j-stevens-bloodstock”]Margins: NK, 2, 1. Odds: 6.70, 2.65, 10.60.
Also Ran: Made You Look, Yoshida (Jpn), Heart to Heart. Scratched: Weekend Hideaway.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Pedigree Notes:
Voodoo Song becomes the seventh Grade I winner for his sire–all but one, local GI Travers S. hero V. E. Day, did their best work on the lawn. His dam was a $200,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by Barry Schwartz, with her best accomplishment a win in a restricted Aqueduct stake sprinting on the dirt for Hushion. The daughter of MSW Mystic Rhythms is a half to SW/MGSP Mystic Soul (Bahri), who in turn produced SW/MGSP Encryption (Exchange Rate). Voodoo Song has an unraced full-brother named Worth a Shot, a yearling half-brother by Japan and a foal half-sister by Flatter. Mystic Chant revisited English Channel this season.
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