How to bet the 2024 A. P. Smithwick Memorial

A cast of seven will travel 2 3/8 miles over National Fences on the Saratoga outer turf on Wednesday in the prestigious, $150,000 A. P. Smithwick Memorial S. (G1). The Kate Dalton-trained #2 Abaan (9-5) is the morning-line choice in the field and comes in with four wins in five tries since turning into a jumper last summer. By Will Take Charge, the seven-year-old displayed a lot of class on the flat earlier in his racing and has transitioned well to his new career, obviously. 

Smithwick Wagers

• $5 exacta key box 2 with 4,5 ($20)
• $1 trifecta 2 with 4,5 with all ($10)
• $1 superfecta 2 with 4,5 with 4,5 with all ($8)

The gelded seven-year-old has defeated his main rival in the field in two of his last three outings, and he also has solid local experience at this venue, as well. The Kentucky-bred retains the services of regular jockey Bernard Dalton, too. 

An intriguing longshot to me in the field is the Keri Brion-trained #4 Freddy Flintshire (10-1). The Kentucky-bred bay, who is one of two contenders in the field for this outfit, owns a win and two placings from three tries over fences at Saratoga in his lifetime, and the son of Flintshire was also well regarded when going off as the 2-1 favorite in the contest in 2023, as well. He didn’t run his best when sixth in the Steinman (G1) at Aqueduct on June 20, but the gelding will surely benefit from having a start under his belt in advance of Wednesday. Stephen Mulqueen retains the mount. 

#5 L’Imperator (3-1), who impressively bagged the Steinman (G1) last time out, is a winner over the fences at The Spa and rates a big chance with his top showing for conditioner Archibald Kingsley, Jr. The seven-year-old son of Holy Roman Emperor has yet to solve Abaan, but he got close to that one three back at Camden and has been going well in 2024. The French-bred bay gets four pounds from the top pick with Jordan Gainford in the stirrups once again.