Michael Mitchell

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...