Chelsea Durand Photo

Belfast Banter scores elusive graded triumph in G1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial

by Mary Eddy

After hitting the board in 3-of-6 graded starts, Irvin S. Naylor’s Belfast Banter broke through at the highest level with a smart score in Wednesday’s Grade 1, $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial, a 2 1/16-mile hurdle test for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Cyril Murphy and expertly piloted to victory by Barry Foley, the 8-year-old son of Jeremy entered from third-place efforts in the Grade 2 David Semmes Memorial Handicap in May at Great Meadow and the Grade 2 Temple Gwathmey Handicap in April at Middleburg. He made his fourth start at the Grade 1 level after finishing off-the-board in a trio of prestigious events last year and visited the winner’s circle for the first time since taking the 2021 Betway Top Novices at Aintree.

“In his overseas races, he was most successful when he had a strong, true-run race to sit behind and arrive there late,” said Murphy. “He’s one of those horses that flatters to deceive. As long as he’s traveling against you, you’re getting something. When you drop his head and let him off, he’s come to the end of his run. It was perfect just weaving between and keeping him covered and riding him like he was the best, and today he was.”

Belfast Banter was unhurried by Foley after the start and was brought to an inside path from post 9 to track near the rear of the nine-horse field as West Newton rushed up to take command into the first turn. Gordon’s Jet sat just off the pace as Historic Heart raced comfortably in third position ahead of a headstrong Welshman down the backstretch for the first time with the order remaining unchanged throughout the first time around the good inner turf course.

Passing the stands a second time, West Newton widened his margin before veering inward over the seventh fence and losing a touch of ground to a progressing Gordon’s Jet, who matched stride with his pacesetting rival entering the final turn. Meanwhile, a rail-skimming Belfast Banter showed an impressive turn of foot under a patient Foley, who kept a firm hold of his charge as he waited for room to tip three-wide into the stretch and unleash his run at the lead.

A loaded Belfast Banter had plenty left in the tank and glided past the frontrunners with ease in mid-stretch, drawing off under a celebrating Foley to claim the victory by 6 1/2 lengths in a final time of 3:53.69.

Historic Heart overtook the tiring front duo for second with Freddy Flintshire picking up show honors over the high-weighted Noah and The Ark. West Newton, Redicean, Gordon’s Jet, Salvino and Welshman completed the order of finish.

Belfast Banter had finished third to his returning Jack Fisher-trained rivals Welshman and Gordon’s Jet last out in the David Semmes when carrying six pounds more than the former and 10 more than the latter. Murphy said a more even weight assignment to that of his familiar rivals helped lead him to victory in their rematch.

“I believe coming here, we would win, but I didn’t think he would do it like that,” said Murphy. “It gives you something to think about moving forward, but today was to be his day from my perspective.”

Foley, who won the first Grade 1 of his 18-year riding career, said a weight advantage helped his mount produce a better result at Saratoga than last year when he finished fourth in the Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard.

“Everything went according to plan. They ran a nice gallop and we traveled very, very true to rails. Jumped brilliantly and he made my life easy,” said Foley. “He's had a couple of better runs in recent starts and he got a break at the weights today. He had a fourteen-pound spring for the two horses that were in front of him at the last, and I thought if he turns up, even halfway fair, he should be good enough to win.”

Murphy said it is possible Belfast Banter could give the 2 1/2-mile Jonathan Sheppard another try on August 16, but will wait and see how his newly-minted Grade 1-winner exits this race with the 2 3/8-mile Grade 1 Lonesome Glory on September 14 at Belmont at the Big A as another potential target.

“He ran here last year in the Sheppard and went to Aqueduct for the Lonesome Glory,” said Murphy. “I think he’s a horse that’s better with a bit of spacing. Is three weeks enough time? I’m not sure. But I do think 2 3/8 would suit him better than 2 1/2 the Lonesome Glory. We’ve got lots to think about, but we have time to think about it.”

Bred in Ireland by Seamus Cooney, Belfast Banter banked $90,000 in victory, boosting his total purse earnings to $324,103 and improving his lifetime record to 29-5-7-5. He returned $35.60 for a $2 win ticket.

Danny Mullins, who traveled from Ireland to ride the Keri Brion-trained Historic Heart, said the son of Fracas was simply second best.

“He was solid. I ended up a little closer to the pace than I initially thought I would be, but we weren't going that hard so I was happy there,” said Mullins. “He jumped well down the back and picked up off the bend. He ran a good race to be second. That's probably the first time Belfast Banter has ran to the form he showed at Aintree. So, a very solid run from my lad and hopefully we can find a race for him to win very soon.”

Live racing resumes Thursday at Saratoga with a 10-race card, featuring the $150,000 NYSSS Cab Calloway in Race 10. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.    

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/. 

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