Two stakes on the docket today at Saratoga, but one of those is restricted to New York-breds. The other is the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase, 2 1/16 miles over the jumps.
Two Midlantic-breds are entered in the race. Pennsylvania-bred Divine Fortune, a Jonathan Sheppard trainee, is the lead half of the favored coupled entry. Last year’s Eclipse champion steeplechase horse, Divine Fortune won his only start this year, taking the Grade 1 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle Stakes at Percy Warner. He’s a son of Royal Anthem-My Tombola, by Northern Fling who was bred, and is owned, by Sheppard and Bill Pape. The other regional horse in the event is Wanganui, a Maryland-bred son of Love of Money-Distant Drumroll, by Eastern Echo. Bred by Mary Voss and trained by Elizabeth Voss for The Fields Stable, Wanganui has made two winless starts this year and has two wins from 11 tries in his career. He’s 15-1 on the morning line.
