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Ziggle Pops dominates G1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial H.

by Mary Eddy

It took Bruton Street-US’s Ziggle Pops just two attempts at the top-level to notch a Grade 1 victory for Hall of Fame trainer Jack Fisher, drawing off in the stretch to soundly defeat an accomplished field in Sunday’s $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Handicap, a 2 3/8-mile hurdle test for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.

The 7-year-old Zoffany gelding entered from a determined third-place finish in the inaugural Grade 1 Beverly R. Steinman on June 20 at Aqueduct Racetrack, and improved with a more relaxed trip Sunday to provide Fisher with his fifth Smithwick score.

Ridden to victory by Graham Watters, Ziggle Pops was patiently held in fourth behind the pacesetting Pickanumber, who set the tempo through the first lap with West Newton and Going Country tracking in a respective second and third.

The running order remained largely unchanged until the second time around the far turn when L’Imperator, last-out winner of the Steinman, advanced along the outside of foes from last to challenge for third position. The Richard Hendriks-trained West Newton jumped awkwardly in the stretch the second time by, and forced Watters to angle Ziggle Pops inside of that foe once settled to ride the hedge into the clubhouse turn.

Fisher said he was pleased to see Ziggle Pops inherit the spot along the hedge after racing mid-pack beforehand.

“Ricky's horse blew the fence there and he got shuffled back to last,” said Fisher. “I said to stay in front of that group and that way you'll have a clean shot all the way through, but he got lucky, and the inside opened up. So, a little luck.”

Pickanumber maintained his advantage heading into the backstretch for the final time while post-time favorite Abaan crept closer with every stride to be one length from the front in second. A gutsy Pickanumber dug in deep at the top of the stretch and managed to turn back several challenges, but could not fend off the loaded Ziggle Pops, who charged up the inside with a devastating turn of foot to coast home a 4 1/4-length winner in a final time of 4:32.85 over the firm footing.

Pickanumber valiantly held off the inside rush of Freddy Flintshire to land place honors by a head with L’Imperator coming on for fourth. Going Country and Abaan dead-heated for fifth with West Newton completing the order of finish.

Fisher said the victory was a pleasant surprise from the unassuming chestnut.

“I thought he was just 'a horse.' I ran three at Aqueduct [in the Steinman] and didn't expect much of him there, but I thought he ran well so I brought him back up here,” Fisher explained. “He likes to sit back. The horse likes to sit back. He's obviously getting better. I thought his jumping was good last time, and his jumping was great today.”

Watters, aboard last out in the Steinman, said he allowed his charge to rate as he pleased.

“I jumped off there third or fourth which was a little bit further back than what I was in the last one, but we were going much faster,” Watters said. “West Newton missed his hurdle the second time around the last hurdle when I started to go. He missed it in front of me so I got dropped back to last. I just had to sit there and suffer but they were going plenty fast enough in front of me that I could sit and wait.”

Fisher added Ziggle Pops will likely skip the next steeplechase event at the Spa in favor of the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory in September at Belmont at the Big A.

"He won't run back up here,” said Fisher. “I'll give him more time and run him at Aqueduct."

Bred in Great Britain by St. Albans Bloodstock, Ziggle Pops banked $90,000 in victory and boosted his total purse earnings to $187,783 through a 19-6-0-3 record. He returned $12.80 on a $2 win ticket.

Jamie Bargary, aboard the Leslie Young-trained Pickanumber, praised his mount’s brave effort in his stateside debut after a romping wire-to-wire score last out in the Swinton Handicap in May at Haydock Park.

“It was a beautiful trip around, exactly how we planned it. He won his last start in England doing that exact thing,” said Bargary. “First time on ground this firm, I was surprised how well he handled it. He is an exciting horse for the future.

"I tried to save as much [energy] as possible, you need to have a kick here at Saratoga with the straight,” Bargary added. “He's a tough, genuine horse, who quickened for me. It is just a shame someone quickened a little better."

Live racing resumes Wednesday at Saratoga with a nine-race card, featuring the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap in Race 7. 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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