Iranistan’s Class Test in A.P. Smithwick

[Wandering Eyes]

With Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, there’s always the second option.

The first option for Iranistan (Einstein {Brz}) was on the flat. His sire, a son of 1985 Kentucky Derby winner Spend a Buck, earned more than $1.4-million on grass and a similar amount on dirt, with Grade I victories on both surfaces. His dam, Miss Vindictive (Stephen Got Even), won three times and earned more than $75,000. The hope, of course, was that her foal would duplicate their form on the flat for breeder Crossed Sabres Farm. It did not happen.

Iranistan was not an embarrassment on the flat, finishing third in a Gulfstream Park maiden claimer for $20,000 on turf in January, but he was no world beater. For many trainers, the next step would be to find a home for him on a lesser circuit.

But not for Sheppard. He always has the second option. Not all failed flat horses can race successfully over fences. It’s by no means automatic. Transferred to the Hudson River Farms of Albany real estate developer Edward P. Swyer, Iranistan was sent over fences. He just could be a world beater.

In three starts over fences, the 4-year-old is undefeated and untested. Through two allowance hurdle victories and a win in a novice stakes, he has never been headed. He has won by 11 1/2, 10 and eight lengths.

Sheppard, currently atop the National Steeplechase Association trainer standings by wins, will give Iranistan a class test Thursday in Saratoga Race Course’s $175,000 G1 A. P. Smithwick Handicap over 2 1/16 miles on the inner turf course.

He will be facing seasoned competitors and a Grade 1 winner, Buttonwood Farm’s All the Way Jose (Senor Swinger), who also is trained by Sheppard, the 8-year-old’s breeder. All the Way Jose finished fourth in the G2 Temple Gwathmey Handicap in April and fell in the G1 Calvin Houghland Iroquois on May 19.

Second in the weights at 154 pounds, All the Way Jose will have a new jockey, Ross Geraghty, while 2017 champion jockey Darren Nagle remains astride Iranistan.

Carrying the 156-pound highweight is Robert A. Kinsley’s Modem (GB) (Motivator {GB}), who has finished second in five U.S. starts, all Grade 1 races. He was not especially close in the Iroquois, which was won by Zanjabeel, now taking a summer-long break. Jack Doyle, currently leading the jockey standings, will again be aboard Modem for trainer Elizabeth Voss.

While Iranistan has the ability to rate–he was reserved off the pace when winning a Delaware Park maiden special weight on July 4–his high cruising speed probably will put him on the lead in the Smithwick.

Right behind him most likely will be another emerging star, Magalen O. Bryant’s homebred Personal Start (Jump Start). He began the year with an easy win in the Carolina Cup for novices, which are newcomers to jump racing.

Trainer Richard Valentine then dropped the 7-year-old into the Virginia Gold Cup’s G2 David Semmes Memorial Stakes on May 5, with strict orders to jockey Barry Foley to not contest the lead. The strategy worked; Personal Start won by eight lengths. Foley again will be in the saddle.

An intriguing newcomer in the Smithwick’s field of seven is Promanco Ltd.’s Oskar Denarius (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}). He had five wins over hurdles in the 2017-2018 jumps racing season in England, but all were in low-level handicaps. The 7-year-old is trained by Ben Pauling, a rising star in jump racing there, and will be ridden by Tom Garner.

 

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