Voss has two in pursuit of third straight N.Y. Turf Writers Cup win

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Elizabeth Voss will take two shots at winning her third consecutive Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup on Thursday when she sends out defending race winner Portrade and Modem in the 2 3/8-mile steeplechase race at Saratoga.

Last year, Portrade won the New York Turf Writers, but the celebration was muted by the fact that Bob Le Beau, who had won the race in 2015, suffered a fatal injury during the race. On Thursday, Portrade will be attempting to bounce back from a fourth-place finish in the A.P. Smithwick, which was won by longshot Swansea Mile.

“He’ll probably be out on the lead again,” Voss said. “I always think he’s not going to like the farther distance, but first time out this year he ran 2 1/2 miles, and he ran awesome.”

The lack of the final fence in the stretch and the fact that the last half-mile of steeplechase events are run like a flat race doesn’t help Portrade, Voss said.

“He’s so competitive, but jumping’s his strong point,” she said. “It doesn’t help him having a half-mile sprint.”

Modem was second as the 5-2 favorite in the A.P. Smithwick, his first start since coming to the United States two weeks prior.

“I was delighted with him,” Voss said, noting that jockey Jack Doyle said, “The more he does, the better he feels.”

“I’m hoping the distance will be better for him,” Voss added. “He’s put on a lot of weight.”

Modem is the 156-pound highweight and is spotting two to 20 pounds to the field.

Jack Fisher sends out the pair of Choral Society and the 11-year-old Mr. Hot Stuff. Choral Society won the A.P. Smithwick here in 2015 and most recently won a handicap race here Aug. 9 in a solid performance going 2 3/8 miles.

“He obviously likes Saratoga, and I thought Darren [Nagle] gave him a great ride last time,” Fisher said. “He settled in and stalked the leaders and went on with it at the end. I think this race, he might get the same type of trip. It looks like there’s a lot of speed, and he could sit off of them.”

Mr. Hot Stuff was scratched out of a race earlier at this meet, Fisher said, because he was shod the day before “and couldn’t walk out of the stall the next day.”

Swansea Mile was 28-1 when he upset the A.P. Smithwick at 2 1/16 miles, his first win since coming to the United States and to trainer Richard Hendriks. He will have to prove he can get 2 3/8 miles, a distance at which he has yet to have success.

Jonathan Sheppard, a 14-time New York Turf Writers Cup winner, sends out All the Way Jose and Alcazar de Maram.

Diplomat, Colla Pier, Casino Markets, Show Court, and Three Kingdoms complete the field.