Past Performances: Forbidden Apple moves to Saratoga from Belmont this year
By Stan Hudy
The $150,000 Grade III Forbidden Apple for fouryear-olds and up is one of the first stakes races moved from Belmont Park to Saratoga in 2019 with the expanded racing calendar.
The namesake, Forbidden Apple, loved Belmont Park. The near-black horse had his greatest successes over its turf courses, including victories in the Manhattan (G1), Belmont Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G2), and two editions of the Kelso (G2). Forbidden Apple was trained throughout his career by Christophe Clement. The Arthur Appleton homebred was also a major reason why his dam, North of Eden, took home the prestigious Broodmare of the Year title in 2002.
Last year, the Linda Rice trained New York-bred Voodoo Song captured the Forbidden Apple by a length over Projected and Offering Plan under Manuel Franco at Belmont Park before traveling to Saratoga Race Course and following it up with the Grade I Fourstardave Handicap a month later in August.
Trainer David Donk captured the Forbidden Apple in 2015 and 2016 with King Kreesa with the brothers Ortiz aboard, Jose in 2015 and Irad in 2016.
Earlier this month, trainer Linda Rice had hopes for Voodoo Song to again make her mark in the Forbidden Apple after not racing for the past six months.
“He’s still carrying a little extra weight and we’re going to try for one more breeze,” Rice said. “He’s much heavier right now than he has been in the past, so we’re trying to get him there but he’s still got a lot of weight on him so we’re working on it.”
“It’s still on the radar. I don’t know if we’ll make it, but we’re pointing towards it,” Rice said regarding the Forbidden Apple.
Bred in New York by Stonewall Farm, Voodoo Song, a son of English Channel, is out of the stakes winning Unbridled’s Song broodmare Mystic Chant.