Choral Society Sails Home in A. P. Smithwick

Choral Society came flying up the rail after the last jump and went on to a 1 ¼-length upset of the 19th running of the Grade 1, $125,000 A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase on Thursday at Saratoga Race Course and earn his third victory over hurdles and first in a stakes.

Sent off at 16-1, the 6-year-old gray son of Holy Bull was content to run along in fifth as Divine Fortune led the field of six twice around and into the final hurdles. Rounding the far turn and heading into the last jump, Diplomat moved up from second to challenge for the lead, but jockey Paddy Young sent Choral Society sprinting up along the inside and went on to win the 2 1/16-mile race in 3:51.77 with Martini Brother closing for second.

"The [jockeys on Demonstrative and Bob Le Beau] started niggling a bit between the third and second-to-last [jump], so I just wanted to sit and hold on because when you're racing against those horses and you're the underdog, you have to save something," said Young, a three-time winner of the Smithwick. "I was able just to squeeze all the way around on the inside. He jumped the last brilliant, and thank God he quickened after the last. He was very good."

It was the first victory in more than a year for Choral Society, whose last win over hurdles came with a similar late move at Parx Racing while in the care of trainer Cyril Murphy.

"This horse, before I trained him, he beat me at Parx," recalled Jack Fisher, who took over Choral Society's training this year. "I was a stone winner and he came flying to beat me."

Choral Society, who was getting 16 pounds from 1-2 favorite Demonstrative and 12 from his longtime rival Divine Fortune, returned $34.40 for a $2 win bet. His record over jumps is now 3-1-2 from eight starts, with his overall record standing at 7-7-3 from 31 career races.

"I knew we'd get the pace, and we were getting the weight," said Fisher, who trains Choral Society for Petticoats Loose Farm. "Sixteen pounds is a lot. The thing with him is, he relaxes. They get better with age because their jumping gets better. They get more efficient."

Demonstrative, a multiple Grade 1 winner and Eclipse Award winner who finished second by a nose in last year's Smithwick,was 1 ½ lengths behind Martini Brother. Bob Le Beau was fourth, followed by Divine Fortune and Diplomat.

"Perfect trip, really," said Robert Walsh, aboard the beaten favorite. "I couldn't complain. I sat there nice and relaxed. If anything, maybe a little too relaxed for going 2 1/16 [miles]. I was after him earlier than I expected or than I would've hoped to have been."

Hinterland and Parker's Project were scratched.

Source: NYRA Communications (Jenny Kelner)