Divine Fortune seeks three-peat in Smithwick Memorial

Thursday's Grade 1, $100,000

A.P.

Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase at Saratoga has a 2011 look about it as the

top three finishers from last year's renewal will do battle again in the 2

1/16-mile prep for the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup, which is scheduled for

August 23.

Divine Fortune, who seeks a third consecutive win in this race, was a

two-length winner last year off a 49-week layoff, but failed to win the

remainder of the season, his best finish being a second in the Grade 1 Colonial

Cup. The nine-year-old has started 2012 on a positive note with an allowance win

preceding a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Iroquois in his most recent start

May 12.

Decoy Daddy, last year's runner up, had a consistent campaign last term that

included a win in the Grade 2 Marcellus Frost. However, the Irish-bred has

fallen on harder times in his last two starts, including a last-place effort in

the Iroquois in his season debut. Meanwhile, 2011 Smithwick third Nationbuilder

occupied the same slot in the Iroquois last time but has not come close to

winning over the past 21 months.

Tax Ruling, a 2011 Eclipse Award finalist following wins in the Iroquois and

Colonial Cup, retreated to fourth when attempting to win the former for a third

consecutive year last time, but could be a strong factor if able to regain his

best form.

Decoy Daddy and Tax Ruling are coupled with two other Irv Naylor-owned

entrants, Via Galilei and The Jigsaw Man. The former enters on a bit of a hot

streak having won the Grade 3 Temple Gwathmey and Grade 3 Zeke Ferguson Memorial

since his importation earlier this year, while The Jigsaw Man will be making his

U.S. debut off modest showings in minor hurdles in England.

Country Cousin, runner-up in the Marcellus Frost, Temple Gwathmey and Grade 3

Carolina Cup this year, is another logical threat in a seemingly wide-open

affair. Completing the field are All Together, Dynaski, Left Unsaid, and Spy in

the Sky.

The flat feature Thursday is the $100,000

Birdstone

for older horses at 1 1/8 miles. The likely favorite is multiple stakes winner

San Pablo, who narrowly missed in the Grade 3 Excelsior two back and then ran

fourth as the 7-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Monmouth Cup last time.

Todd Pletcher, who won this race with Rule in 2011, will saddle San Pablo as

well as Grade 2-placed multiple stakes winner Alma d'Oro and Grade 3 veteran

Colizeo.

Trainer Rick Dutrow has entered two horses, both of whom ran this past

weekend. Isn't He Perfect finished second in the Mountainview Handicap at Penn

National Saturday night, while Gallant Fields was claimed for $50,000 after an

optional-claiming eighth going six furlongs at Saratoga earlier in the day.

Also running first off the claim is Grade 3 veteran Pleasant Prince, haltered

by Bruce Brown for $75,000 on July 25. The field is completed by recent Grade 3

Greenwood Cup third-placer Hello Lover.

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