Merriebelle Stable's Renown, ridden by Jack Doyle, scored a maiden hurdle victory at last fall's International Gold Cup. (Tod Marks photo)
Armata Stables’ Zanzi Win and Leipers Fork Steeplechasers’ Tomgarrow, new additions to American jump racing, will make their Stateside debuts on Wednesday in Saratoga Race Course’s $65,000 allowance hurdle.
First post time is 12:50 p.m. for the 2 1/16-mile race on the inner turf course.
Now trained by Ricky Hendriks, French-bred Zanzi Win arrives with a 125 rating and a maiden victory at England’s Plumpton Race Course in April. In his final overseas start, he finished second in a modest-level juvenile hurdle at Plumpton. Ross Geraghty will ride the four-year-old.
Thomas Garner, seeking his third win in the current Saratoga meet, will be aboard Tomgarrow for trainer Leslie Young. The five-year-old has only one sanctioned start, a maiden win at Tramore Race Course in Ireland in April.
Leading trainer Jack Fisher will saddle Whitman’s Poetry and Snap Decision. Whitman’s Poetry, owned by DASH Stable, finished second in a strong Iroquois Steeplechase allowance hurdle in May. In his July 21 start in a Saratoga allowance hurdle, the Tiznow eight-year-old clipped heels and lost jockey Michael Mitchell, who will be back in the saddle.
Bruton Street-US’s Snap Decision won a Monmouth Park maiden hurdle on July 4 and will again be ridden by Willie McCarthy.
Jack Doyle will be aboard Merriebelle Stable’s Renown for trainer Elizabeth Voss. Second in his 2019 debut at the Middleburg Spring meet, he lost his rider in Iroquois’ allowance hurdle.
Petticoats Loose Stable’s Gaye Breeze returns to Saratoga after finishing third in the July 21 allowance hurdle. The six-year-old gave trainer Meriwether Morris her first sanctioned win at the Fair Hill Races in May. Darren Nagle will ride.
Now trained by Jonathan Sheppard, Eve Ledyard’s Go Get the Basil will be ridden by Gerard Galligan. The nine-year-old had fifth-place finishes in two similar allowance hurdles, at the Carolina Cup and Middleburg Spring, this spring.
Completing the field is Lee Pokoik’s four-year-old Roller Rolls On, who finished fourth in Saratoga’s July 21 allowance hurdle. Trainer Doug Fout named Kieran Norris to ride.
Here is the field for Wednesday’s $65,000 allowance hurdle in post-position order.
Zanzi Win (Fr). 2015 b. g., Zanzibari—Go to Win, by Coroner. Owner: Armata Stables. Trainer: Ricky Hendriks. Jockey: Ross Geraghty. Breeder: EARL Haras de Grandcamp (Fr). 2019 NSA record: No starts. Won maiden hurdle at Plumpton in April 2019 in his fifth start over fences. Formerly trained by Harry Whittington and departed England with a second in a Plumpton allowance hurdle. (125)
Roller Rolls On. 2015 b. g., Lemon Drop Kid—Classofsixtythree, by Include. Owner: Lee Pokoik. Trainer: Doug Fout. Jockey: Kieran Norris. Breeder: Lee Pokoik (Ky.) 2019 NSA record: 2-0-0-1, $7,500. 2018 NSA record: 3-1-1-0, $21,000. Finished third in 2019 Radnor allowance hurdle, then was fourth in Saratoga allowance hurdle on July 21. In first start over fences, won 2018 Shawan Downs maiden hurdle for three-year-olds. Finished second in Far Hills’ 2018 Gladstone Stakes. (110)
Tomgarrow (Ire). 2014 ch. g., Alzavoski—Roomer, by Bienamado. Owner: Leipers Fork Steeplechasers. Trainer: Leslie Young. Jockey: Thomas Garner. Breeder: Mrs. Kay Curtis (Ire). In first and only sanctioned career start, won a Tramore maiden hurdle in Ireland in May 2019. (116)
Renown (GB). 2011 ch. g., Champs Elysees (GB)—Fame At Last, by Quest for Fame (GB). Owner: Merribelle Stable. Trainer: Elizabeth Voss. Jockey: Jack Doyle. Breeder: Juddmonte Farms (GB). 2019 record: 2-0-1-0, $6,300. 2018 NSA record: 2-1-0-1, $27,000. Began 2019 with second in Middleburg Spring allowance hurdle before stumbling and losing jockey at Iroquois. Won maiden hurdle at 2018 International Gold Cup. Won Virginia Gold Cup’s 2018 Secretariat Stakes on the flat. (119)
Go Get the Basil. 2010 ch. g., Andromeda’s Hero—Images in Jade, by Jade Hunter. Owner: Eva Ledyard. Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard. Jockey: Gerard Galligan. Breeder: John T. Esposito and Anthony J. Lo Grippo (N.Y.). 2019 NSA record: 2-0-0-0, $2,800. 2018 record: 8-1-4-0, $47,000. Opened 2019 with fifth-place finishes at Carolina Cup and Middleburg Spring before trainer change. Posted second-place finishes in Shawan, International Gold Cup, and Charleston allowance hurdles after fifth in 2018 Saratoga allowance hurdle. Finished second in 2018 Aiken Spring maiden hurdle and then won at Georgia Steeplechase. (115)
Gaye Breeze (Ire). 2013 b. g., Getaway (Ger)—Railway House, by Ashkalani. Owner: Petticoats Loose Farm. Trainer: Meriwether Morris. Jockey: Darren Nagle. Breeder: Ballyreddin Stud (Ire). 2019 NSA record: 4-1-0-2, $21,000. Finished third in Saratoga allowance hurdle on July 21. Won Fair Hill maiden hurdle in his third career start, all in 2019. Finished third at Carolina Cup in his debut. (116)
Snap Decision. 2014 b. g., Hard Spun—Salute, by Unbridled. Owner: Bruton Street-US. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Willie McCarthy. Breeder: Phipps Stable (Ky.) 2019 record: 3-1-2-0, $32,400. Secured maiden win at Monmouth Park in July 2019 after second-place finishes at Queen’s Cup and Iroquois. Previously trained by Shug McGaughey and had two wins on the flat. (116)
Whitman’s Poetry. 2011 b. g., Tiznow—Tustarta, by Trempolino. Owner: DASH Stable. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Michael Mitchell. Breeder: Edward A. Cox Jr. (Ky.). 2019 NSA record: 4-0-2-1, $17,900. 2018 NSA record: 3-0-2-0, $17,650. Clipped heels and lost jockey in Saratoga allowance hurdle in July 2019. Finished third in 2019 Carolina Cup allowance hurdle before second-place finishes at Queen’s Cup and Iroquois. Second in 2018 Queen’s Cup ratings handicap and Iroquois allowance hurdle before fourth in at Saratoga. Won his maiden hurdle victory at 2017 Far Hills meet. Finished third in 2016 Laurel Turf Cup. (119)