Moscato

Moscato's perennial leading connections had a stranglehold on this year's steeplechase category, with Mike Hankin, Charlie Fenwick and Charlie Noell's Bruton Street-US owning all three finalists and Jack Fisher having also conditioned Rashaan (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}). Bruton Street and Fisher were also responsible for 2017 Eclipse winner Scorpiancer (Ire) (Scorpion {Ire}). Finishing behind Scorpiancer in both the GI Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle S. and GI Grand National Hurdle S. in 2019, Moscato kicked off his championship campaign during a compressed steeplechase season with a dominant title defense in the GIII...

Even Saratoga Race Course bettors, usually a decisive lot, could not come to a firm commitment in Thursday's GI A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase H. Would it be Moscato (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) or Optimus Prime (Fr) (Deportivo {GB})? They were that close. Rosbrian Farm's highweighted Optimus Prime was the betting favorite until a few flashes before post time, when Bruton Street-US's Moscato benefited from some late money to become the 1.70-to-1 favorite. Optimus Prime went off at 1.95-to-1. They were together through the first 1 1/2 miles of the 2...

The spring steeplechase season was compressed by the coronavirus pandemic into 21 races at two June race meets, but it had some sweet moments. Perhaps none was as satisfying as the GIII Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase H. victory by Bruton Street-US's Moscato (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), named after the sweet Italian wine. Moscato will have an opportunity to make his season even sweeter in Saratoga Race Course's GI A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase H. Thursday. Second in the weights to Rosbrian Farm's Optimus Prime (Fr) (Deportivo {Fr}), 9-year-old Moscato very likely will...