Tres Touche galloped to his second Grade I win of the year at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Sept.2, as he led from start to finish under jockey David Bentley to win the $100,000 New York Turf Writers Cup hurdle stakes.
Cherokeeinthehills (Tom Foley) challenged for the lead after the last fence but could not get by a game Tres Touche, finishing second by a length, followed by Barzulu (Gerry Carwood) another four lengths back in third. Praise The Prince, recent winner of Saratoga’s A.P. Smithwick stakes and heavily favored, finished a dull fifth.
Trainer Ricky Hendriks’ last victory in this Grade I classic came 22 years ago as an 18-year-old jockey aboard Zaccio. “I think the firm turf helped Tres Touche today,” said Hendriks. “It carries him a little farther. The older he’s gotten, the tougher it is for him to run over soft going.”
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Hendriks’ charge always breaks sharply. “If someone wants to go by him, fine. If not, that’s fine, too. I had a good feeling when Dave [Bentley] turned down the backside the last time and opened up on them. And then he jumped beautifully at the last three fences, and through the stretch I kept saying, ‘Where’s the wire, where’s the wire?’ “
Bentley was thrilled to capture his first Grade I victory at the historic Adirondack track.
“That was an awesome performance,” said Bentley. “His biggest fort
