MIXED UP (Carnivalay), who became a dual winner of Saratoga’s second biggest
jump race when taking the A.P. Smithwick Memorial (NSA-G1) by a half-length on
August 6, will try to claim Thursday’s $100,000
New York
Turf Writers Cup (NSA-G1) for a second time when he heads a field of seven
in the 2 3/8-mile hurdle over National Fences. The Jonathan Sheppard trainee
first won the event in 2006.
After missing most of 2008, the 10-year-old Mixed Up has won three of five
starts this season, preceding his A.P. Smithwick triumph with a victory in the
Imperial Cup at Aiken, South Carolina, and placing in both the Marcellus Frost
(NSA-G3) and David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial. A past winner of the defunct
Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings (NSA-G1) at Keeneland, Mixed Up is the
established class of the field but will again have to fend off two geldings that
have already beaten him this season.
PLANETS ALIGNED (Gold Fever), a Grade1-winning novice back in 2007, handily
prevailed over Mixed Up in the Marcellus Frost in May before bowing to that
rival when third in the Smithwick. SLIP AWAY (Skip Away) led flag-to-wire in the
Ferguson Memorial at Colonial Downs, defeating Mixed Up by five lengths, but was
only fourth to that one in the Smithwick as the 9-5 favorite. Either or both
could bounce back to form for trainer Tom Voss.
SERMON OF LOVE (Pulpit) made a successful transition from hurdling back to
the flat when taking a 1 1/2-mile maiden special weight over Saratoga’s inner
turf on August 3, and would not seem out of place in this event given his
runner-up effort behind multiple champion Good Night Shirt (Concern) in the
Lonesome Glory (NSA-G1) at Belmont Park last fall.
DALUCCI (Ire) (Daylami [Ire]), SWAGGER STICK (Cozzene) and SPY IN THE SKY
(Thunder Gulch) are all taking a major step up in class after losing the August
13 Ben Nevis S. over this course.