NYRA/Joe Labozzetta
By Sarah Mace
Following 2-year-old La Fuerza’s victory in the Rockville Centre Stakes earlier on Belmont’s Saturday card, Barry Schwartz and friends had the pleasure of making a second trek to the Belmont Park winner’s circle to celebrate a homebred stakes winner.
In this case, the star was Voodoo Song (English Channel), who had the best of a strong field of every step of the way in the $150,000 Forbidden Apple Stakes at one mile on the Widener Turf Course. Manny Franco piloted both Schwartz horses to victory.
Trained by Linda Rice, Voodoo Song was a Saratoga sensation last summer at three, posting four victories at the meet, a feat not accomplished since the legendary Native Dancer won four races at the Spa as a juvenile in 1952 during a 24-day meet. Voodoo Song’s Saratoga series was capped by a first stakes victory in the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes on Woodward Day.
Following a winter break lasting from October 28 to April 11, Voodoo Song shook off the rust off for his 4-year-old campaign with a pair of strong allowance performances, winning the second one on May 12 by a nose. He returned to stakes company on June 17, finishing a solid third in the Grade 3 Poker behind by Oscar Performance, and earning his first triple-digit Beyer.
Going postward, Voodoo Song was bet down to odds of 5-1, the third betting choice. Popular fellow New York-bred Disco Partner, who was looking for his second bite from the Forbidden Apple after winning the race last year, went off at even money and Projected was 4-1.
NYRA/Chelsea Durand
At the outset Voodoo Song established one-length lead over Bind Ambition, who tracked him intently for three-quarters of mile. Meanwhile Franco was able to dictate all the fractions unbothered by a direct challenge, clocking splits of 23.29, 46.30 and 1:08.94.
Voodoo Song embarked on his stretch drive two lengths to the good. By mid-stretch a wall of horses lined up behind him but nobody got close enough to threaten. Voodoo Song, crossed the wire a one-length winner in an extremely fast final time of 1:31.67 over the firm turf.
Projected finished second after kicking clear of the pursuing group, followed by New York-bred Offering Plan who closed from last after being squeezed at the start. Completing the order of finish were multiple graded stakes winner Disco Partner, who on this day lacked his characteristic brilliance, Blind Ambition and Pocket Change. [VIDEO REPLAY]
“The plan was to let him do what he wanted to do. He went to the lead,” said Manny Franco. “I tried to slow him down a little bit and he did, it worked out. The last time, he went a little [fast], I figured this time if I went around 46 [seconds], that was my goal. He is game all the time. He always keeps trying. He gave me all he had.”
Linda Rice explained why she pointed Voodoo Song to the Forbidden Apple. “He was coming into this race really well and I wanted to run him. On paper there were three speeds in the race and you would think it was going to set up for a closer like Disco Partner, but fortunately it worked out. He was able to get on the lead and settle.”
Rice added, “As a 4-year-old he’s really matured. Last year, running from the dirt and switching to turf he was really rank and running at two-turns has really benefitted him.”
Rice has on her radar for Voodoo Song’s next start the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave on August 11 as well as the $150,000 West Point for New York-breds on August 24.
Voodoo Song’s dam is Mystic Chant, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Unbridled’s Song purchased by Barry Schwartz for $200,000 at the 2003 Keeneland September yearling sale. In an eight-race career Mystic Chant became a stakes winner for Schwartz before graduating to broodmare duties. She has produced six winners, but Voodoo Song is the first to earn black type.
Mystic Chant has produced a juvenile full-brother to Voodoo Song, a yearling colt by Japan and foaled a Flatter filly on April 9, 2018.
The Forbidden Apple is Voodoo Song’s second stakes victory and improved his record to seven wins, two seconds and third from 15 starts. He has now earned $581,685.
