Portrade wins New York Turf Writers Cup; Bob Le Beau euthanized

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Portrade went wire to wire to win the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup at Saratoga on Thursday, but the mood was grim in the winner's circle after the race as his connections also sent out Bob Le Beau, who injured his right hind leg during the race. Bob Le Beau later had to be euthanized.

Bob Le Beau was pulled up by jockey Jack Doyle after completing three of the nine scheduled fences. Bob Le Beau was vanned from the course and found to have multiple fractures of his right hind pastern.

Bob Le Beau and Portrade are owned by the Fields Stable and trained by Elizabeth Voss. Bob Le Beau, a 9-year-old winner of 14 of 49 jump races and $617,457, was the 3-5 betting favorite and 162-pound highweight in the New York Turf Writers Cup, a race he won a year ago by more than seven lengths.

Portrade was rated on an open lead by jockey Gustav Dahl. He dug in for the stretch run when challenged by Andi'amu, who had stalked him throughout in second, and held on to win by a length. It was 1 1/2 lengths farther back in third to 3-1 second choice Scorpiancer, who raced in last position for much of the 2 3/8-mile race and then rallied belatedly.

"The idea was to have an easy pace," Dahl said. "He likes to be on the front end and settles away once he can't hear pressure behind him."

Portrade paid $27.80 as the second-longest shot in the six-horse field. He was timed in 4:28.93. Portrade, 7, has now won 4 of his 16 steeplechase starts and $168,639. He earned $90,000 of the New York Turf Writers $145,000 purse.

Portrade in his prior start had finished third in the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick at Saratoga, a race won by his stablemate Bob Le Beau.

– addititional reporting by David Grening