Voodoo Song to return in Forbidden Apple
SARATOGA SPRINGS – Much of the speculation leading up to Friday’s featured Forbidden Apple Stakes (G3) was whether morning-line favorite Voodoo Song (31) would actually run. The New York-bred son of English Channel, hero of last year’s Fourstardave Handicap (G1), hasn’t raced since finishing up the track in the Shadwell Mile (G1) last October.
A solid work at Belmont last Sunday, as well as Voodoo Song’s perfect 4-for-4 on the Saratoga turf, no doubt played roles in the 5-year-old horse being entered in the one-mile Forbidden Apple. Regular rider Jose Lezcano will be aboard for the Barry Schwartz standard-bearer and trainer Linda Rice.
Voodoo Song didn’t pick an easy spot to return off a ninemonth layoff. March to the Arch (6-1) comes in off a neck win in the Wise Dan Stakes (G2) last month at Churchill Downs. It was the second stakes win of 2019 for the 5-year-old son of Arch, the first having been in a minor stakes at Tampa Bay. In his lone start on the Saratoga lawn, March to the Arch finished a close-up third in the 2018 Saranac Stakes.
Qurbaan (6-1) is another Saratoga stakes winner, having gotten up by a nose in last year’s Bernard Baruch (G2) at 10-1. It was the Speightstown horse’s first start in the U.S. The fact that Qurbaan is winless in a half-dozen starts since is misleading, as he hit the board in five of them, including three G1s. In his most recent start, the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee faded late in the Manhattan Stakes (G1) on Belmont Day.
Although it occurred three years ago, Made You Look (4-1) is also a graded- stakes winner at the Spa – the 2016 With Anticipation (G2). The 5-year-old More Than Ready horse has been working sharply for new trainer Chad Brown. The Forbidden Apple will be his first start since a fourth behind Voodoo Song in last summer’s Fourstardave 11 months ago.
The New York-bred Offering Plan (6-1) will be making a rare foray into open company. The 7-year-old horse is a three-time statebred stakes winner – including last year’s Mohawk and Kingston – and has hit the board in his last nine starts. In his most recent effort, in this year’s Kingston, he finished third as the evenmoney favorite.
The $150,000 Forbidden Apple, previously run at Belmont, makes its debut this year as a graded event. The rest of the expected 10-horse field consists of Canadian G2 winner Hembree (81), First Premio (10-1), Gidu (12-1), Mr Havercamp (15-1) and Doctor Mounty (15-1).