Rice still excited about Voodoo Song's big win in Saranac

Barry K. Schwartz' Voodoo Song exited his gate-to-wire victory in Saturday's Grade 3, $300,000 Saranac for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga Race Course in good order, trainer Linda Rice said Sunday morning. 

Undefeated in five career starts on the grass, the victory was the fourth for Voodoo Song in a six-week span at Saratoga, a feat unmatched since Native Dancer won four in a single season at the Spa in 1952, then a 24-day meet. As a 2-year-old that year, the legendary "Gray Ghost" swept a quartet of stakes races, including the Saratoga Special and Hopeful.

"He came out of the race well and he looked good this morning," said Rice. "We're of course still very excited about his big win yesterday."

Transferred to Rice in July, Voodoo Song won his first start for his new barn by a front-running 5 ¼ lengths in a $40,000 claiming race against open company at 1 1/16 miles on the grass on July 22. He ran back four days later against New York-breds in a 1 3/8-mile turf allowance, sprinting to a 16-length lead early in the race and holding on to win by three-quarters of a length. 

In his third Spa appearance a month later, Voodoo Song stayed in front every step of the way to post a length victory in a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer on the grass on August 23.

On the lead throughout in the Saranac, the 3-year-old English Channel colt showed his typical keenness through the early going, drawing off by at least 5 ½ lengths on the backside before holding off a hard-charging Yoshida to win his graded stakes debut by a neck.

"In his last race, he relaxed a little bit more than yesterday but it was at a longer distance," said Rice. "He's learning with experience. I believe English Channel used to run on the front end as well and he takes after his father, that's for sure."