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Bob Le Beau returns to face tough field in Thursday's Grade 1 A. P. Smithwick 'Chase

by NYRA Press Office

The Fields Stable's Bob Le Beau, winner of last year's Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup at Saratoga Race Course, returns on Thursday as the 158-pound highweight for the Grade 1, $125,000 A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase.

Bob Le Beau will be making his 2016 debut over fences after winning a Parx Racing flat race for hurdlers on July 10. The 9-year-old Irish-bred gelding is trained by Elizabeth Voss and will have the services of leading jockey Jack Doyle.

Bob Le Beau finished third in last year's Smithwick Memorial and won Belmont Park's Lonesome Glory Handicap after his New York Turf Writers victory.

Facing Bob Le Beau will be formidable field of nine opponents that includes 2014 Eclipse Award winner Demonstrative, a two-time winner of the New York Turf Writers, who carries 156 pounds.

In his only start over fences this year, the Jacqueline Ohrstrom color-bearer finished fifth in the Grade 1, $200,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois on May 14 in Nashville.

Amy Taylor Rowe's Maserati is riding a three-race winning streak over fences that extends back to last fall. In his most recent start, the Brazilian-bred romped to victory in the $45,000 Valentine Memorial Ratings Handicap on May 25 in Fair Hill, Md. Gavin Sheehan, an emerging top jockey in England and Ireland, will ride for trainer Leslie Young.

Jack Fisher, the National Steeplechase Association's reigning champion trainer, entered a talented trio for the 2 1/16-mile Smithwick Memorial, contested over eight fences. Edith Dixon's Schoodic comes into the Smithwick from a victory in the Grade 3 National Hunt Cup on May 21 at the Radnor Hunt Races in Pennsylvania. Leading Irish jockey Danny Mullins visits Saratoga and has the mount.

Bruton Street-US's Scorpiancer, second to Maserati in the Valentine Memorial, will be ridden by Connor Hankin, and Sean McDermott has the mount on Woodslane Farm's Overwhelming, a Saratoga allowance winner last summer.

Trainer Julie Gomena and jockey Mark Watts won the Saratoga jumps opener on July 27 with Kensington Court, and they will seek a double with Stonelea Farm's Balance the Budget, winner of the Carolina Cup for novices in April.