Rashaan upsets N.Y. Turf Writers Cup Handicap
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Jockey Thomas Garner had a choice to make going into Thursday’s Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup at Saratoga: whether to ride Rashaan, who finished a distant third in his only previous outing this season in the Temple Gwathmey Cup, or Redicean, a tiring fourth in the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick here earlier in the week, both horses he had been aboard in their previous starts.
In the end, Garner made the right decision, opting for Rashaan, who he drove to a two-length victory over his stablemate Redicean to lead a one-two finish for trainer Leslie Young in the Turf Writers Cup, the highlight of the steeplechase season each summer at Saratoga.
Rashaan, an 8-year-old Irish-bred gelding, was making just his fourth start in the U.S. after being purchased privately by Young for Bruton Street-US last season. Rashaan came to the States with 13 victories on his resume in Europe, nine of those over the jumps.
Garner put Rashaan on the early lead before conceding the advantage to Pravalaguna at the second fence. Rashaan regained command after Pravalaguna stopped suddenly once clearing the final hurdle, responding gamely to turn back a bid from Redicean through midstretch before edging clear at the end.
Redicean raced within easy striking distance throughout, engaged his stablemate in the long, flat run to the wire, but was second best, finishing 2 3/4 lengths in front of Smithwick winner Moscato.
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Optimus Prime, the 2018 Turf Writers Cup winner and tepid 8-5 favorite in this year’s renewal, was pinched back and steadied on the final turn, made a brief bid into the stretch, did not respond further, and was eased to the wire and vanned off after the race. He and Moscato shared highweight of 160 pounds, conceding the winner 16 pounds apiece.
Rashaan completed the grueling 2 3/8 miles over a firm course in 4:34.20 and paid $18.
“I rode him for the first time at Middleburg and the whole way I was pushing him and pushing him,” said Garner. “But he’s got so much ability. This horse has been training so well at home, I just gambled and hoped for the best. This is my first Grade 1 since I lost my best friend back home in February, so this one was for him.”
Young said both Rashaan and Redicean had been training well coming into the race.
“Rashaan has got all the ability, he’s related to some serious flat horses, and I thought the way he was training, if he could just do that in a race without overthinking it, we’d be okay,” said Young. “We skipped the Smithwick because I thought this distance would be better for him, the fact Bruton Street had other horses in the race, and also because of the shortage of jump jockeys eligible to come to Saratoga this summer as a result of the pandemic.”