Winston C figures to be a short-priced favorite to make it a sweep of Saratoga‘s two Grade 1 hurdles when he heads the field for Thursday’s $150,000 New York Turf Writers Cup (G1) over 2 3/8 miles.
On July 25, the five-year-old Rip Van Winkle gelding lorded over his rivals in the A.P. Smithwick Memorial (G1). Last early and down by as many as 11 lengths, Winston C made a commanding bid for the lead in the final furlongs and drew off to a 3 1/2-length victory in only his second start in the U.S. for Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard.
“I’m not sure why, but I think the jockey just wanted to get him settled in a nice position and they went off pretty quick,” Sheppard said. “He’s still adjusting a little bit to the American hurdles and maybe he lost a bit of time over the first jump or two. The further he went into the race, the better his jumping got. Obviously, he showed a real good kick in the straight and finished well.”
Sheppard also has entered All the Way Jose, fifth in the Smithwick and winless since taking the 2017 Lonesome Glory (G1) at Belmont Park.
“He’s an honest horse and he should be competitive,” Sheppard said. “He wasn’t a threat last time. The jockey thought that he maybe lost a tad of speed going 2 1/16 miles and that 2 3/8 miles might suit him better. The further the better, really.”
Hinterland, who finished 4 1/4 lengths adrift of Winston C in the Smithwick, is still in search of his first top-level victory in America. The now 11-year-old has various other Grade 1 placings to his credit. The same goes for Modem, though that veteran has not been competitive in either start this term.
Other Smithwick also-rans seeking to be more competitive here include Gibralfaro, No Wunder, Peppay Le Pugh, and Belisarius. The field is rounded out by 2016 New York Turf Writers Cup winner Portrade, who failed to finish in two earlier starts this season.
