Voss, Fisher loom large in New York Turf Writers Cup

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainers Elizabeth Voss and Jack Fisher have combined to win the last four runnings of the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap at Saratoga, and with them having two-thirds of the six-horse field for Thursday’s renewal of the $150,000 race, it’s likely that one of them will win it again.

Voss sends out the duo of Bob Le Beau, who won this race last year, and Portrade, the first- and third-place finishers in the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick here last month. Fisher sends out Scorpiancer, the runner-up in the A.P. Smithwick, and Schoodic, who finished second in last year’s New York Turf Writers.

Bob Le Beau was an impressive winner of the A.P. Smithwick under 158 pounds. He carries 162 pounds Thursday under Jack Doyle, who has won two of the last three runnings of this race. Bob Le Beau is spotting 12 to 20 pounds to his five rivals.

“Obviously, I was not happy about this weight,” Voss said. “I realize that’s what’s going to happen if you run in handicaps.”

Voss, who also won this race in 2013 with Makari, said Bob Le Beau had a super workout last week.

“Jack got off him and said, ‘I don’t care how much weight they give me,’ ” Voss said. “He just worked phenomenal. He came out of that other race great; so did Portrade.”

Voss said she prefers the 2 3/8 miles of this race for Bob Le Beau over the Smithwick distance of 2 1/16 miles.

“It’s a better distance for Bob,” Voss said.

Fisher, who has won this race three times, believes the added distance will be better for both of his horses.

Scorpiancer had the lead in midstretch of the Smithwick but had to steady, which caused him to lose momentum. He was beaten a length by Bob Le Beau. He gets 12 pounds from Bob Le Beau on Thursday.

“Scorpiancer got stopped a little bit in the stretch,” Fisher said. “If he doesn’t get stopped, he’ll be okay.”

Fisher said Scorpiancer will be the last mount for jockey Connor Hankin, who is scheduled to join the Marines in a few weeks.

Schoodic was a disappointing sixth in the A.P. Smithwick.

“He just didn’t fire,” Fisher said.

Fisher believes Bob Le Beau will benefit from the new rule this summer that removes the final fence in the stretch, making the last three furlongs of all steeplechase events akin to a flat race.

“He doesn’t like that last fence; my horses soar over it,” Fisher said.

Charminster, third in the Turf Writers last year, and Andi’amu, fourth in a handicap race here Aug. 3, complete the field.

The Turf Writers will go as the opening race on a 10-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Eastern.