Demonstrative seeks title defense in Turf Writers Cup

Withdrawn from the August 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial due to a reported cough,

Demonstrative figures to be in better health on Thursday when he defends his

title in Saratoga's premier steeplechase, the Grade 1, $150,000

New

York Turf Writers Cup, over 2 3/8 miles.

Hero of the Turf Writers Cup and Jonathan Kiser for novices at Saratoga last

year, Demonstrative concluded a notable 2012 campaign with a one-length win in

the Colonial Cup at Camden. However, a 10-length loss in the Grand National

ultimately swayed more Eclipse Award votes to Pierrot Lunaire, who captured

divisional honors in a 116-99 decision.

Demonstrative kicked off 2013 on a winning note May 11 in the Iroquois at

Nashville. The Elusive Quality gelding needed nearly every yard of the

three-mile test to run down Divine Fortune in the final strides to post the neck

victory under Robbie Walsh, who will guide the six-year-old in the Turf Writers

Cup.

Divine Fortune, part of an entry that was favored at 4-5 in the Smithwick,

wound up third behind Mr. Hot Stuff and Italian Wedding in his bid for a third

Smithwick victory. For the Jack Fisher-trained Mr. Hot Stuff, who finished 2 1/2

lengths clear, the Smithwick was his first non-restricted stakes victory over

jumps. It was also a stellar effort from Italian Wedding, who was having his

first outing in 16 months.

Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard, who saddles both Divine Fortune and Italian

Wedding, will also be represented by Hunt Ball, a European import who showed

some early foot in the Smithwick before weakening to sixth in what was his U.S.

debut, and Martini Brother, who captured the 2013 edition of the Jonathan Kiser

by a half-length on July 25.

Others of note in the Turf Writers Cup are 2012 Smithwick winner Spy in the

Sky, a distant fourth in his title defense earlier this month, and the Fisher

trainees All Together and Brave Prospect. The former was an August 1 optional

claiming winner at Saratoga, while the front-running Brave Prospect was a fading

fifth in the Smithwick last time.

Only five older horses will contest Thursday's leading flat event, the

$100,000

Alydar at 1 1/8 miles, but the field includes Grade 3 winners Csaba and

Easter Gift.

The Phil Gleaves-trained Csaba, who landed four stakes in Florida last winter

including the Hal's Hope and Fred W. Hooper Handicap, will attempt to rebound

from a seventh-place finish in the Whitney Handicap. Easter Gift, meanwhile,

hopes to extend his current win streak to four for trainer Chad Brown. The Hard

Spun colt was most recently a 2 1/4-length winner of the $230,000 Mountainview

Handicap at Penn National on June 1.

Todd Pletcher has entered his stakes-winning Brooklyn Handicap runner-up

Percussion and Brazilian Group 1 winner Vitoria Olimpica. Aussi Austin, an

allowance runner-up at the Spa on July 29, completes the field.

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