Voodoo Song may make quick turnaround for Hill Prince

Voodoo Song, who won two races in five days as part of his four-win Saratoga meet, could wheel back in a week in Saturday’s Grade 3, $500,000 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park, trainer Linda Rice said Monday.

Voodoo Song finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Just Howard, in the Grade 3, $200,000 Commonwealth Derby last Saturday at Laurel.

“It is a possibility only because how often do you get to run for $500,000 in your backyard?” Rice said. “And, he’s a 3-year-old and there are only a few straight 3-year-old grass races left this year.”

Rice said the fact that Oscar Performance, the top 3-year-old turf horse in the country, ran in last Saturday’s Joe Hirsch and won’t be in the Hill Prince, makes the race more appealing.

Rice said she felt the Commonwealth Derby was a good spot for Voodoo Song because of the true two-turn nature of the race. She felt having to run his first quarter in 22.97 seconds impacted Voodoo Song’s ability to finish in the Commonwealth Derby. The Hill Prince is run at 1 1/8 miles around two turns, but Belmont’s turf course is so expansive that Rice doesn’t view it the same as Saratoga or Laurel.

“We can call the Hill Prince a two-turn race, but it’s very much different from what he’s been running on so far,” Rice said.

Others pointing to the Hill Prince include Bricks and Mortar, Frostmourne, Hieroglyphics, Luculan, Small Bear, Ticonderoga, and Yoshida.