Makari tries to buck history in New York Turf Writers Cup

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Makari will be a sentimental favorite to win Thursday’s Grade 1, $150,000 New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase, but he will be bucking two pretty significant historical hurdles.

Makari is trained by Elizabeth Voss, the daughter of Tom Voss, the highly successful steeplechase trainer who died this year at the age of 63. This year’s running of the New York Turf Writers Cup is being run in memory of Voss, and members of the family – including Elizabeth’s mother, Mimi – will be making the trophy presentation.

Makari gave Elizabeth Voss her first winner since taking over her father’s stable when he won the A.P. Smithwick on July 31 by a nose over Demonstrative, who won the 2012 New York Turf Writers Cup. Only one of the 17 A.P. Smithwick winners – Campanile (1999) – has returned to win the Turf Writers, which at 2 3/8 miles is five-sixteenths of a mile longer than the Smithwick.

“He picks up eight more pounds, and he’s never run this distance before, which is another hurdle we have to jump,” Voss said. “But he’s doing great. I have high hopes for him. He had only gotten here 12 days before the [Smithwick]. He’s gotten stronger, he’s training great, he looks better than he did. I think he should handle everything pretty well.”

History says beware of Jonathan Sheppard in the Turf Writers. He has won this race 14 times, including last year with Italian Wedding, who comes back for a repeat try Thursday. Sheppard, who first won this race in 1979, also sends out Barnstorming.

Last year, Italian Wedding won the Turf Writers after running a good second in the A.P. Smithwick. This year, Italian Wedding, now 9, finished sixth, beaten 11 lengths, in the Smithwick.

“I thought he ran okay,” Sheppard said. “It was his first start in a long time; he had slightly interrupted training because of the weather. They went pretty fast, and he’s not that fast a horse.”

The Turf Writers is run under allowance conditions. Italian Wedding has to carry 154 pounds, spotting Makari four pounds.

Barnstorming has not won since taking the Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes here last year. He finished ninth in the Smithwick, his second start of the year after falling in his first start.

“I would be slightly surprised if either one of them won it,” Sheppard said.

Demonstrative, trained by Richard Valentine, has to give four pounds to Makari as opposed to the 12 he gave him in the Smithwick.

Pleasant Woodman, who gets in light with 142 pounds, will try to take the field as far as he can on the front end for trainer Paul Fout. In the Smithwick, his first start in 10 weeks, Pleasant Woodman set the pace before finishing third.

The New York Turf Writers Cup will be run as the first race on Thursday’s program at 12:25 p.m. Eastern.