Voodoo Song entered in Lure but eyes bigger prize

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Voodoo Song, who won four races at last year’s Saratoga meet, was entered Wednesday to make his first start of the 2018 Saratoga meet in the $100,000 Lure Stakes.

It is not certain he will stay in the race as owner Barry Schwartz on Wednesday indicated a desire to run Voodoo Song in the Grade 1 Fourstardave here on Aug. 11.

“I think it’s time to step up,” Schwartz said. “It’s his favorite track and distance; everything points to taking a shot.”

Trainer Linda Rice said she entered Voodoo Song to keep her options open. Rice said she is also concerned about running Voodoo Song on soft turf, and the forecast for Friday calls for more than an inch of rain in the Saratoga area.

Last year, Voodoo Song began the meet with a win in a $40,000 claiming race on July 22. He came back four days later to win a New York-bred allowance. He finished the meet by winning two races in 11 days, capped by the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes.

This year, Voodoo Song is 2 for 4, including a sharp victory in the Forbidden Apple Stakes last out.

Others entered in the Lure are Ballagh Rocks, Blacktype, Camelot Kitten, Conquest Panthera, Dalarna, Inspector Lynley, Ticonderoga, and Zennor.

Zennor won last year’s Lure Stakes but hasn’t run since.