Fence change at Spa for jump races

Saratoga’s program of steeplechase races kicks off Wednesday with nine horses entered in a $65,000 allowance hurdle, and handicappers will notice a change in the jump races this summer as the last fence in the final stretch run will not be jumped.

The change adheres to a recommendation by Dr. Scott Palmer, the equine medical director of the New York State Gaming Commission, and is intended to enhance the safety of the jump races at Saratoga.

As a result, the steeplechase races will have a three-furlong run from the final fence on the backstretch to the finish line.

The change was inaugurated for the two jump races at Belmont last fall, and New York Racing Association and National Steeplechase Association officials decided to follow Dr. Palmer’s recommendation for the 2016 races.

Sharing the 156-pound highweight in Wednesday’s 2 1/16-mile race will be Robert A. Kinsley’s Unsinkable and Duodecim Stable’s All for Us.

All for Us, trained by Jack Fisher, won his maiden start over fences in May after a successful flat career and was a fastclosing second in a Ratings Handicap at Monmouth Park on June 16. Connor Hankin, currently second in the jockey standings, will ride.

Trained by Elizabeth Voss, Irish-bred Unsinkable won his maiden start in the U.S. in April and most recently won a division of a flat race for hurdlers at Parx Racing on July 10. Top jockey Jack Doyle has the mount.

Maryland-based Voss also entered The Fields Stable’s Berland, who would be making his first start after a racing career in England. A maiden hurdle winner last December for former trainer John Ferguson, the Darley-bred by Cape Cross has finished in the money in his four jumps starts. Gus Dahl will ride.

Trainer Leslie Young entered Dyna’s Vow, owned by Amy Taylor Rowe, and Ballybristol Farm’s Blue Atlantic. Third in a Suffolk Downs Ratings Handicap on July 9, Dyna’s Vow will be ridden by Gavin Sheehan, who is making his U.S. debut.

Blue Atlantic will be making his first U.S. start over fences after finishing fifth in the second division of Parx’s flat race for hurdlers.

Racing Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, who is looking to extend his string of at least one Saratoga victory to 48 years, entered his As You Like It, a Florida-bred by Shakespeare who won his first start over fences and then was second in an optional claiming hurdle at the High Hope Steeplechase in Kentucky in May. Gerard Galligan has a return call. King’s Bishop.

The Personal Ensign for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up will be the first Saratoga start for Forever Unbridled, winner of the Grade 1 Apple Blossom in April whose sister, Unbridled Forever, captured the Shine Again and Grade 1 Ballerina here last summer.

Forever Unbridled ran into traffic trouble down the stretch last time out in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 11 but managed to get up for second, 2 ½ lengths behind Cavorting.

“She worked great this morning,” Stewart said. “She had a bad trip in the Ogden Phipps but ran good and was second, so here she is.

We’re just trying to pace it out and hit the Breeders’ Cup. We want to be sound and ready to go.”

Twelfth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby coming out of a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, Tom’s Ready rallied from dead last to win the seven-furlong, Grade 2 Woody Stephens by 1 ½ lengths, also on Belmont Day.

He ran twice last summer at Saratoga, finishing fourth in his career debut and fifth in the Grade 1 Hopeful.

“He came back great,” Stewart said.

“We’re just spacing his races out. The horse ran all through the Louisiana Derby series, ran in the Kentucky Derby, we gave him a little bit of a break and brought him back Belmont Day. Now we’ll give him a nice long break and try to win the King’s Bishop with him and the Breeders’ Cup Mile.”

Stewart said Tale of Verve emerged well from Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile allowance victory by a neck at odds of 17-1 over favored My Man Sam. Runner-up in the Grade 1 Preakness behind 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, it was the first win since his maiden triumph last April.

“He’s a beautiful horse. We’ll just keep him two turns and space his races out, maybe run him one more time here.

We’ll figure it out,” he said. “It was a big step yesterday. Great race, he fought hard and beat a really, really nice horse. It was a great Saratoga race.”

Another Fipke homebred, Tale of Verve ran six more times last year following the Preakness including off-the-board finishes in the Belmont, Grade 2 West Virginia Derby, Grade 1 Travers and Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby. He was fourth in a Churchill Downs allowance June 4 off a sevenmonth layoff.

“We gave him a break during the winter. He ran hard in the Preakness and we just kept going. I probably should have stopped a little bit.

I think I learned something there.

Those Triple Crown races, if they’re not competing they need a break,” Stewart said.

“He’s such a nice horse, he’s sound. We gave him the time off. They did a great job in South Carolina with him and sent him back to me.

It looks like we’re on the right road.”