Demonstrative Seeks Third New York Turf Writers' Cup

Jacqueline Ohrstrom's Demonstrative, the reigning Eclipse Award winner, will shoot for his third victory in Saratoga Race Course's Grade 1, $150,000 New York Turf Writers Cup against a high-quality field on Thursday.

The 2 3/8-mile New York Turf Writers attracted a capacity field of 10 entrants and will be the first race with a 1 p.m. post time. The race will be televised by TVG.

Demonstrative, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, will carry the 156-pound highweight, conceding from six to 18 pounds to his opponents. Trained by Richard Valentine, the striking 8-year-old Elusive Quality gelding will again be ridden by Robbie Walsh.

Demonstrative will have something to prove in the New York Turf Writers after finishing a lackluster third in Saratoga's Grade 1, $125,000 A. P. Smithwick Memorial on August 6. Earlier in the year, he won the Grade 1, $150,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois in Nashville. Last season's New York Turf Writers kicked off Demonstrative's dash to the Eclipse Award. He subsequently won Belmont Park's Grade 1, $150,000 Lonesome Glory Handicap and the Grade 1, $250,000 Grand National at Far Hills, N.J. He also won the New York Turf Writers in 2012.

Also entered was Bill Pape's Divine Fortune, the 2013 Eclipse winner who won two Grade 1 races last year, the Iroquois and the Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup. The 12-year-old laid down the Smithwick pace but tired to finish fifth. Trainer Jonathan Sheppard named Darren Nagle to ride Divine Fortune, who is second in the weights at 150 and who is 10-1 on the morning line.

Racing Hall of Fame trainer Sheppard also will saddle Rod Moorhead's All the Way Jose, last year's novice champion who will be ridden by reigning champion jockey Willie McCarthy. The pair will leave from post position 9 as the 6-1 program choice.

Jack Fisher, who has a substantial lead as he seeks his fourth straight training title, will saddle three contenders for the New York Turf Writers: Syros (12-1), who was fourth in Saratoga's Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes on August 3; Hinterland (12-1), who is making his first U.S. start, and Schoodic (6-1), the 2014 Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes winner.

Also entered is the veteran All Together, who was claimed from Fisher's stable on August 5 by leading New York trainer David Jacobson for his own account. Four years ago, Jacobson claimed Mabou at Saratoga and wheeled him back to win the New York Turf Writers. Ross Geraghty will ride All Together, 8-1 on the morning line.

Gregory Hawkins' Alajmal has not raced over fences in 21 months, and he will be returning in a tough spot for Racing Hall of Fame trainer Janet Elliot. Bernie Dalton, who has two Saratoga wins this meet, will be in the saddle for the 20-1 shot.