By Don Clippinger
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 1/16-mile race on Saratoga's inner turf course, and they provided the Smithwick's drama through the final furlong. In deep stretch, the Smithwick came down to the two of them, with Optimus Prime beginning to tire in his first start in more than 14 months and Moscato surging to a hard-fought victory by three-quarters of a length. Possessing excellent speed for hurdlers, the duo saved their assaults for the end game as first Surprising Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}) and then Redicean (GB) (Medicean {GB}) laid down the preliminary pace.
Ridden by Michael Mitchell, Moscato did not begin to move forward until the final run through Saratoga's backstretch, and Darren Nagle did not flinch aboard Optimus Prime until the last fence, located at the end of the backstretch. Thomas Garner, aboard Redicean, tried a breakaway move on Saratoga's final turn, but Optimus Prime was eating up ground with surprising ease.
“I thought we were on trouble on the turn,” said Moscato's trainer Jack Fisher.
Mitchell was making headway with Moscato, but he was having to work for it. They weaved through tiring horses, but in midstretch they were still two lengths behind Optimus Prime, who had hit the front shortly before the furlong pole. Moscato, responding to Mitchell's entreaties, gradually pared Optimus Prime's advantage and took the lead inside the final 70 yards. With Optimus Prime showing some signs of fatigue, Moscato was beginning to pull away at the line.
“Coming out of the turn, he got trapped for a little bit of room, but his stamina kicked in and he really went well to the line and got his head in front at the right time,” Mitchell said.
Winner of the GIII Temple Gwathmey H. at Virginia's Middleburg Spring Races June 13, Moscato completed the Smithwick distance in 3:47.51 on firm turf. Trained by Ricky Hendriks, Optimus Prime finished 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Riverdee Stable's Gibralfaro (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), who also is trained by Fisher. Redicean finished fourth in a field of eight.
The Smithwick completed a spring hurdle stakes sweep for Bruton Street-US and Fisher. In addition to Moscato's two wins, Snap Decision (Hard Spun) won the Virginia Gold Cup's David Semmes Memorial June 27 and Saratoga's Jonathan Kiser Novice S. Wednesday. Fisher said Moscato and Snap Decision would be pointed toward Saratoga's GI New York Turf Writers Cup H. Aug. 20.
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