Voodoo Song earns shot at Saranac Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Voodoo Song will look for his fourth win of the Saratoga meet when the New York-bred takes a big step up in class in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Saranac Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Owner Barry Schwartz gave Voodoo Song to Linda Rice after trainer Mike Hushion retired at the end of the Belmont spring-summer meet. For Hushion, Voodoo Song mostly sprinted on dirt despite having won his maiden on turf last November.

Rice opted to put Voodoo Song back on the turf, and he won a $40,000 claiming race by 5 1/4 lengths on July 22. Four days later, Voodoo Song won a New York-bred first-level allowance race by three-quarters of a length after opening up a 16-length early lead. Then, on Aug. 23, Voodoo Song went gate to wire in a second-level New York-bred allowance.

Rice was planning to run Voodoo Song in an open-company first-level allowance on closing day, but because of his recency, Voodoo Song would have been relegated to the also-eligible list had the race oversubscribed, which it did.

So, Rice opted to run in the Saranac.

“I had only picked him up a few weeks before in July, thought he would be better off going long on turf than short on dirt,” Rice said. “Took all the equipment off, blinkers and everything. He stretched out beautifully.

“I think he’s really relished the turf course here. As far as he likes the two turns, that is part of the reason I put him back in. It’s a big step up in company, but I think he’ll have a shot.”