A mystery horse bred in New Zealand and undefeated over hurdles
in Australia blew into Saratoga mid-way through the prestigious
summer meeting and created a storm of controversy when he captured
the only Grade I steeplechase race run at the historic track in
upstate New York. Elsewhere at the Spa, Blythe Miller fell into
some bad luck early on, Tom Voss got red-hot late and It's A Giggle
had a laugher in the Grade II Smithwick, giving Jonathan Sheppard
his only steeplechase winner of the meet. Finally, an analysis
of amounts wagered at Saratoga revealed that handicappers actually
bet more throughout the course of the day on cards that included
steeplechase races than those that did not.
Steeplechasing has a strong connection to Saratoga, as hurdle
races have been contested there since the track first opened its
doors in 1864. There are numerous trainers at Saratoga who used
to ride there over fences including Billy Turner (trainer of Seattle
Slew), recently retired Scotty Schulhofer, Leo O'Brien, his son
Keith O'Brien, Barclay Tagg, Kenny Nesky, Ricky Hendricks, Chip
Miller and Tom Skiffington. Other Saratoga trainers with steeplechase
back rounds include Graham Motion and Eric Jovonen, both of whom
are former assistants to Jonathan Sheppard, and Willard C. Freeman,
who conditioned champion race mare Shuvee, was a former assistant
to Hall of Fame steeplechase trainer Burley Cocks.
As a result of the National Steeplechase Association's ("NSA")
new fence configuration that required horses to jump only two
fences on the backstretch, most of the races were contested over
nine fences this year, two less than previous years.
Thursday August 25th
Opening day for the jumpers at Saratoga started off with a bang
as William C. Lickle's Trebizond (Ire), the longest shot on the
board, won the 2 1/16 mile allowance race and returned $70.50
to those who backed him. The Irish-bred son of Sadler's Wells
keyed a $5,004 trifecta and a $590 exacta. Cherry Knoll Farm's
Cold Cat was second while Jennifer Patterson's Valay Pass finished
third.
Trainer Katherine Neilson chose last year's apprentice sensation
Tom Foley to ride Trebizond (Ire) for a reason."Tom had ridden
him before, which was important because it seems like the jockey
has to know him first in order for him to run well for you," said
Neilson, who has had Trebizond (Ire) in the barn for a little
over a year. "I liked him a lot coming into the race, especially
after the prep he had on the flat at Colonial Downs. He has a
big heart."
Trebizond (Ire) was bred in Ireland by Vincent O'Brien, who was
the master of Coolmore's Ballydoyle Farm prior to retiring and
turning the reins over to current trainer Aidan O'Brien. Trebizond
(Ire) is by perennial leading European sire Saddler's Wells (by
Northern Dancer) out of a mare by Storm Bird (by Northern Dancer)
and as such is very closely inbred (2x3) to Northern Dancer. Trebizond
(Ire) is also inbred 2x3 to full sisters Lisadell and Special,
the later being the dam of Nureyev. Both sisters are granddaughters
of the blue hen Rough Shod II. This pedigree pattern is very similar
to that of 1996 steeplechase champion Correggio (Ire), who was
also bred by Vincent O'Brien. Like Trebizond (Ire), Correggio
(Ire) is by Saddler's Wells out of a daughter of Lisadell again
resulting in 2x3 inbreding to the full sisters Lisadell and Special.
Robert McNair's Stonerside Stable, a power-house in flat races,
started Star Tide in the race, a regally son of Seattle Slew.
Star Tide was bidding for the lead at the last fence when he stumbled
badly upon landing unseating jockey Blythe Miller. Miller got
up and walked away from the fall, but would not be so lucky in
her next ride the following week.
Bad Press
A few days after Trebizond's victory Dave Litfin of the Daily
Racing Form published an article entitled "How to hit the jackpot
without handicapping". In the article, Mr. Litfin complained that
heavy favorites in entry-level steeplechase allowance races at
Saratoga tend to run out of the money while longshots tend to
win. Wait a minute: wasn't that the same result that occurred
in 2 out of three triple Crown races this year? Could it be possible
that Mr. Litfin was so busy analyzing steeplechasing form that
he missed this year's Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, each
of which was won by one of the longest shots on the board while
the favorite finished out of the money?
In his article, Mr. Litfin went on to complain about the fact
that some of the horses did not finish the steeplechase race run
at Saratoga on July 25th. Funny, but I didn't notice Mr. Litfin
complaining when even-money favorite La Cat was pulled-up and
vanned off in the 4th race at Saratoga on July 27th while horses
with boxcar odds finish first and second. Nor did he complain
when even-money favorite Quiet Resolve dueled the first half-mile
of a 7-furlong race in a ridiculous 44.39 seconds on July 29th
before fading badly to finish off the board behind three horses
with long odds.
As all handicappers worth their salt know, the events that Mr.
Litfin complained about in his article are every day occurrences
in the racing world and are not restricted to steeplechase races.
For him to imply otherwise was an insult to the intelligence of
his readers.
Wednesday August 31st
The second steeplechase race of the meet and two trends begin
to emerge as Rick Michael's El Guardaespalda (Chi) wins the race,
easily defeating Warren Dempsey's Storm Touch by five lengths.
The first trend involves foreign-bred horses, who won the first
two steeplechase races at Saratoga and would go on to capture
three of the eight jump races run at the meet. The second trend
was a more troubling one: for the second race in a row a horse
ridden by Blythe Miller fell at the last fence while challenging
for the lead. Miller fell hard and temporarily lost consciousness.
When she came-to, Miller complained of neck and back pain and
was taken to the Saratoga Hospital where she was kept overnight
and was released the next day after a CAT scan evaluation proved
negative. Miler would end-up sitting out the rest of the Saratoga
meet upon the advice of her doctor.
A native of Cochranville, Pennsylvania, Miller, 34 years old,
was the champion steeplechase jockey in 1994 and 1995. She has
a total of 202 career steeplechase victories, seventh upon the
all-time list and tops among active riders in the United States.
She has notched 10 victories from 23 starts so far this year (a
43% winning percentage), and leads all jump jocks with $389,404
in earnings despite missing most of the lucrative Saratoga season.
El Guardaespalda (Chi) is trained by Sanna Neilson, who has high
hopes for the Chilean bred. "He could be a top horse if everything
goes his way," said Neilson. "He's a little bit immature mentally,
that's probably because he's only 4 ½ years old. I've had him
since March of last year, and really took my time with him. Our
training methods are so different than those in Chile. They train
bareback most of the time down there they only use a saddle for
workouts and races."
El Guardaespalda is a half brother to former steeplechase horse
Dictador, who Neilson trained early in her career. "I always thought
Dictador should have been a top horse, he was just a little bit
unlucky, and then he got hurt." said Neilson, who recently wed
fellow steeplechase trainer Ricky Hendricks.
The late George Sloan went to Chile and picked El Guardaespalda
out for owner Rick Michaels of Tampa, Florida."El Guardaespalda
is the second horse I've had by a stallion called Onward (by Fappiano),
who I like a lot; they've both been real good horses. And I've
also had a few horses with Tantoul (El Guardaespalda's damsire)
in their pedigree and they've all been tough, durable horses."
Thursday August 1st
Former champion jockey Arch Kingsley won his first race at Saratoga
in almost two years when he guided Mrs. F. Eugene Dixon's Shamrock
Isle to a 3 ½ length victory over Equistar for trainer Jack Fisher.
Shamrock Isle raced in mid-pack, made a bold move around the last
turn to make the lead at the top of the stretch, and sprinted
clear of the others after the final fence. Equistar led over the
second-to-last fence, battled gamely around the turn but was no
match for Shamrock Isle, who made his next start in the Grade
I New York Turf Writers' Cup where he finished fourth. Equistar
came back to win the same condition 2 weeks later, while Double
Leaf, who finished third 4 ¾ lengths behind Equistar, finished
second in the New York Turf Writers' Cup in his next outing.
For the third steeplechase race in a row there was a faller,
as Hunt Lane fell at 6th fence unseating jockey David Bentley.
Tallow, racing in the rear of the pack, could not avoid the fallen
Hunt Lane on the landing side of the fence, falling over him and
unseating Jody Petty. Both jockeys walked off with nothing more
than bruised pride. (Petty would not be as fortunate thee weeks
later when he broke his ankle while dancing at the Parting Glass
Saloon.) The good news for steeplechase fans was that these were
the last falls of the meet, as the last five steeplechase races
at Saratoga were run without any further such mishaps.
Thursday August 8th - the Grade II A.P. Smithwick
It's A Giggle rolled to an easy 1 1/2 length victory in the $75,000
Grade II A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase. Tres Touche finished
second in the 23rd edition of this summer classic, 1 3/4 lengths
in front of Indispensable. The time for the 2 1/16th miles over
nine fences was 3:37.56, one second off the track record set by
Hudson Bay while carrying 147 pounds in 1996.
Tres Touche broke on top and maintained that position for the
first four fences before Anofferucantrefuse took command around
the far turn the first time around. While Tres Touche and Anofferucantrefuse
traded places for the first 1 1/2 miles of the race, It's A Giggle
was content to bide his time, stalking them in third position.
As the field straightened away down the backside the last time
jockey Gus Brown turned It's A Giggle loose, and the 4-5 favorite
began to close in on Anofferucantrefuse. Those two jumped the
last fence on the backstretch abreast of each other, but It's
A Giggle took off upon landing, quickly opening up a four length
lead. From there he just seemed to glide home the easiest of winners,
jumping the last fence in front by two and coasting to the wire
under a hand ride.
"He's such a phenomenal jumper," said Brown after the race. "I
never intended to get the lead that soon, but he was fencing so
well - he makes about three to four lengths up on the others at
each fence. He is an amazing, free running horse. He was traveling
off the bridle much of the race - traveling comfortably. Then
when he made the lead so easy around the final turn I gave him
a little breather. He won this race well within himself and he
definitely had something left at the end. He doesn't have to be
in front all the way to win, as he showed that again today."
Brown was asked to compare It's A Giggle to last year's steeplechase
champion Pompeyo (Chi) and Praise The Prince (NZ), both of whom
he rode on a regular basis. "It's A Giggle has a flamboyant, free-rolling
style," said Brown. "Pompeyo (Chi) and Praise The Prince are more
calculated and quick jumpers. And I think it really helps that
It's A Giggle is so much bigger than the other horses; it suits
his free-rolling style."
Brown was riding It's A Giggle for the first time as his regular
rider, Blythe Miller, had been injured in a fall the week before
the race. Miller, who is undefeated on It's A Giggle in five starts
over the past two years, had called Brown to offer some advice
on how to ride It's A Giggle. "Blythe has always been a good friend,
except when we are on the race course," Brown said. "She told
me to let him run his own race - and if he wanted to run free,
let him run free. The biggest thing she said was not to get into
a wrestling match with him, because then he won't try."
Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard has now won the Smithwick
nine times. "I thought Gus rode the horse the way a 4-5 shot should
be ridden," said Sheppard. "He had him nicely placed stalking
the two leaders, and then took the lead turning for home. The
horse jumped brilliantly. The only fence he skipped a bit was
the last one. He's a pretty extravagant jumper," Sheppard added.
"He's a tall, racy horse. He can take off further behind the fences,
and he soars over them. We'll probably bring him back for the
New York Turf Writer's Cup in three weeks; that's been our plan
all along."
William L. Pape's It's A Giggle is a horse for the course. The
8-year-old son of all-time leading U.S. jump sire Northern Baby
(by Northern Dancer) won three races at Saratoga last summer,
including the Grade I New York Turf Writers' Cup. He is undefeated
in three starts over hurdles this year: prior to the Smithwick
he won the $175,000 Grade I Royal Chase at Keeneland and the $25,000
Sandhills Cup, both run in April. It's A Giggle currently leads
all steeplechase horses in earnings this year with a bankroll
of $172,620.
Smithwick Biography
A. P. (Paddy) Smithwick rode 398 steeplechase winners during
his career, second only to Joe Aitcheson's total of 440. Mr. Smithwick
was the nations leading steeplechase jockey in 1956, 1957, 1958,
and again in 1962. He won the Temple Gwathmey, at the time the
country's most prestigious steeplechase race, run in the late
fall at Belmont Park, four times. He won the Meadow Brook Handicap
and the Georgetown Handicap six times each, the International
Handicap and the Beverwyck Handicap five times each, and the New
York Turf Writers and the Grand National three times each. Mr.
Smithwick said the greatest horse he ever rode was Mrs. Ogden
Phipps three-time champion Neji, who retired in 1960 as the leading
steeplechase earner of all time. In 1958 Mr. Smithwick was aboard
Neji when he won the Grand National carrying 173 pounds. Forced
to retire from riding in 1966 after a spill at Monmouth Park that
left him partially paralyzed in the left arm, Mr. Smithwick went
on to train two stakes winners on the flat including Bel Sheba,
the dam of Kentucky Derby winner Alysheba. Mr. Smithwick died
of cancer at the age of 46 in 1973, shortly after he was inducted
into the Racing Hall of Fame.
Wednesday August 14th - Claiming Race Does Not Fill
For the second year in a row, jumpers were allocated only nine
races at Saratoga by the New York Racing Association, three fewer
races than in previous years. Bill Gallo, Director of Racing for
the NSA, knew going into the meet that he would have trouble filling
claiming races, and when the substitute race for the scheduled
claimer did not go he reluctantly had to cancel one of the nine
races.
"We filled eight races with 42 horses," informed Gallo near the
end of the meet. "That's not enough volume. It would sure be easier
if we had more horses to work with. With the purses as high as
they are here it's hard to understand why more of the trainers
with smaller stables don't take a shot."
All tolled. 65 horses faced the starter in the eight races at
Saratoga, resulting in a very respectable 8.125 starters per race.
Thursday August 15th
Major Hero tracked pace setter Mauritania before assuming the
lead down the backside the last time and drew clear as an easy
winners, the first of the meet for leading trainer Tom Voss. The
6-year-old son of Major Impact (by Roberto) defeated Miles Ahead
by two lengths while Valay Pass was another 1 ¾ lengths back in
third. Major Impact is owned by Betty and Laddie Merck's The Fields
Stable and was ridden by Cyril Murphy.
Thursday August 22nd - The Mystery Horse Appears
The Fields Stable became the only owner to win two steeplechase
races at the Spa as Equistar, bred to go long on the turf top
and bottom, (by Cozzene out of a Vaguely Noble mare) crushed a
solid field of novices by six lengths. Storm Touch finished second
for the second time at the meet 4 ¾ lengths in front of Zabenz
(NZ), a mysterious invader from Australia who was undefeated in
three starts over hurdles Down Under, including a $100,000 stakes
race.
Zabenz was dispatched as the 2-1 favorite, and should have handled
that field easily, but seemed to be kept in constant traffic by
his jockey Craig Thornton. Thornton, a New Zealand native, has
ridden in the United States since 1990 racking up 162 career victories
here, but Zabenz was his first mount of the year. Zabenz had clear
run on the outside heading into the clubhouse turn the last time,
but Thornton wrestled down to the inside after letting most of
the field pass him around the turn. From there Thornton kept Zabenz
covered up behind other horses, at one point gunning him into
a blind switch approaching the far turn before snatching him up
and finally wheeling him to the outside after again letting most
of the field pass him.
When asked about his trip after the race, Thornton brushed aside
the way Zabenz handled the turns, but noted, "That was not his
usual effort. He was void of early foot, and he should benefit
with the addition of blinkers next time."
Trainer Robert Smerdon advised that Zabenz had arrived in the
States two weeks before the race and wondered if the trip half-way
around the world from Australia had taken something out of him.
Smerdon was also indicated that he would take Thornton's advice
concerning the addition of blinkers. "He was equipped with blinkers
on the flat in Australia," Smerdon advised, "but he was too keen
over jumps with them so we took them off. Craig seems to think
they would help him here, so we'll add them when he runs in the
Turf Writers' next week."
Wednesday August 28th
Leading trainer Tom Voss won his third steeplechase race in a
row with Big Brush, a regally bred 6-year-old gelding by Broad
Brush out of a Private Account mare. Jockey Roger Horgan lulled
the rest of the riders to sleep setting slow fractions on the
front end before holding off favorite Miles Ahead to win by 1
¾ lengths. Big Brush had won three steeplechase claiming races
in a row this spring but had disappointed those who backed him
at even-money earlier in the meet.
Big Brush was bred in Maryland by Robert Meyerhoff, who bred
and raced his sire, Broad Brush. Broad Brush was a multiple Grade
I winner who finished third in the 1986 Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
He was trained by Richard Small, brother of former champion steeplechase
jockey Douglas Small, Jr.
Thursday August 29th - The Grade I New York Turf Writers'
Cup
Zabenz (NZ) captured the 61st running of the $100,000 Grade I
New York Turf Writers' Cup Handicap, traveling half-way around
the world from Australia to get the job done. The 5-year-old son
of Zabeel (NZ) took command of the race leaving the backstretch
the last time and romped top a 7 ½ length victory. Double Leaf
(GB) finished second 5 1/4 lengths in front of 1998 steeplechase
champion Flat Top. The time for the 2 3/8ths miles run over a
soft course that had been deluged with an all-day rain was 4:28.04,
well off the track record of 4:12.04 established by Hokan in 1998
and tied by It's A Giggle over a rock-hard course last year.
Recently acquired by Englishman Michael Watt, Zabenz was converted
to jumps this June. He took immediately top his new calling, winning
three hurdle races in 19 days in Australia including a $100,000
novice stakes. Zabenz shipped to the United States earlier this
month, arriving in Saratoga on August 7th. He added blinkers for
the Turf Writers', and got the same soft ground that he had become
accustomed to while racing in Australia.
"The jockey made the suggestion about the blinkers because the
horse didn't travel well enough last week," said winning trainer
Robert Smerdon. "He needed something to put him on the bridle
a little bit more; he was too casual last week."
Winning jockey Craig Thornton agreed with Smerdon's assessment:
"We were disappointed in him last week, but the blinkers obviously
got him back on his game," said Thornton after the race. "The
soft going helped him as well. Last time out he was fiddling around.
Today he was on his game. He's a serious race horse."
When asked to compare steeplechase racing in the United States
to jump racing Down Under, Smerdon commented: "I think Australia
and the America are very comparable in terms of the quality of
jump racing. It's a shame because jumping doesn't get the recognition
here or back home that it gets in England and Ireland."
Zabenz is by the exceptional stallion Zabeel (NZ), who has sired
the winners of more than 50 stakes races. Zabeel has been the
champion sire in New Zealand in each of the past five years and
has finished either first or second on Australia's leading sire
list in each of the past six years. Trained by the renown Colin
Hayes, Zabeel won the Australian Guineas (Group 1) as well as
three Group 2 stakes races: the Moonee Valley Stakes, the Alister
Clark Stakes and the Craiglee Stakes. He was retired with a record
of 7 victories and 5 placings from 19 starts. Zabeel is a son
of the legendary Sir Tristram out of the unraced Nureyev mare
Lady Giselle. Lady Giselle is a daughter of Valderna, a Group
winning half-sister to the outstanding race mare Detroit, who
won Europe's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe,
as a three-year-old. Detroit also has the distinction of producing
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Carnegie (by Sadler's Wells).
Zabenz' grand-sire Sir Tristram (Ire) had an outstanding career
at stud, siring a remarkable 45 Group I winners, more than Mr.
Prospector and Northern Dancer and second only to Sadler's Wells.
Sir Tristram won the Dewar Stallion Awards, given each season
to the New Zealand-based sire with the greatest progeny earnings
throughout New Zealand and Australia, a record nine times. He
was the champion Australian sire six times. Alongside every measure
used to define excellence, Sir Tristram set extraordinary new
figures. In addition to his 45 Group I winners, Sir Tristram sired
a total of 127 Group and Listed stakes winners and more than 220
black type performers, almost one quarter of all his runners.
William L. Pape's It's A Giggle, a winner of his last four starts
at Saratoga including last year's edition of the Grade I New York
Turf Writers Cup Handicap, failed as the even-money favorite in
his attempt to defend his Turf Writer's title. The 8-year-old
son of leading steeplechase sire Northern Baby (by Northern Dancer)
was pulled up by jockey Gus Brown after the eighth fence. He was
conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard.
"As soon as they dropped the flag we were in trouble," said Sheppard.
"The soft course is exactly what we were afraid of, but it's hard
to scratch when you have the favorite in a $100,000 race. Unfortunately,
it was like It's A Giggle was swimming out there. He couldn't
get a hold of it. He's a long-striding horse, and he was never
even on the bit. He came up to the race great; we just got beat
by the weather. Still, you can't take anything away from the winner.
That was a great performance."
It's A Giggle carried high weight of 160 pounds in the Turf Writers',
and as a result conceded 14 pounds to the winner, and 20 pounds
to the second-place horse. He had won three races at Saratoga
last year, including the New York Turf Writer's Cup, and won the
Grade II A.P. Smithwick stakes in his only start at the Spa this
year. He was unbeaten in three starts this year coming into the
Turf Writers', had captured the Grade I Royal Chase at Keeneland
in April, and lead all United States-based jumpers with earnings
of $172,620 this year.
Sheppard gained some level of satisfaction from the Turf Writers'
by tightening the girth on second place finisher Double Leaf (GB).
Owned by Timber bay Farm, the 9-year-old son of Sadler's Wells
(by Northern Dancer) raced at the back of the pack early, came
widest of all around the final turn and passed Flat Top on the
run-in to give jockey Michael Traurig his fifth second place finish
from five rides this summer at Saratoga. Mrs. Henry A. Gerry's
Flat Top was rated early, moved to within a half-length of Zabenz
around the final turn, ranged along side the winner coming to
the last fence, but faded to third on the run-in. The 9-year-old
son of Alleged (by Hoist The Flag) was the steeplechase Eclipse
Award winner in 1998, but has been unable to recapture his form
from that year when he won three of five starts over fences. Nevertheless,
Flat Top has now won seven of 15 starts over hurdles and has racked
up over $396,000 in jump earnings for trainer Janet Elliot.
Turf Writers' Aftermath
In light of Zabenz' sudden form reversal, Daily Racing Form Publisher
Steve Crist published the following comments about the Turf Writers'
in his on-line Saratoga Journal:
"A week ago, an Australian import named Zabenz made his stateside
debut in an allowance race where he seemed to be kept in constant
traffic and allowed to run only through the stretch. What was
he being prepped for? Today's $100k New York Turf Writers Cup,
it would seem. Zabenz ($10.80) looks like King Kong today, aggressively
taking the lead after 6-5 favorite It's a Giggle leaves the course,
and Zabenz wins by 7 1/4 as a strongly-bet second choice. Nice
game."
Whether Thornton held Zabenz in the allowance race the week before
the Turf Writers' is open to debate. Certainly that allegation
was levied by Mr. Crist, and he was not alone in his beliefs.
The fact that Zabenz went to the post at odds of 4-1 in the Turf
Writers' when he was quoted on the morning line at 10-1 indicates
that someone knew something, as he received much heavier play
at the mutual windows than most would have expected. Nevertheless
there are just enough facts in Thornton's favor to allow him to
credibly refute any such allegations. Zabenz carried 13 pounds
less in the Turf Writers' than he carried in the allowance race,
he caught a soft track in the Turf Writers' similar to the ones
that he had won over in Australia, and of course there was the
addition of blinkers for the Turf Writers'. Still, anyone who
watches the replay of the allowance race has to wonder about Thornton's
motivations, especially in light of Zabenz' dominance of the best
jumpers that the United States had to offer in the Turf Writers'
just seven days later.
While the jury may still be out on this issue, NSA Racing Director
Bill Gallo saw no need to perpetuate the debate. "The stewards
in New York never questioned anything about Thornton's ride in
the allowance race," said Gallo. "Even if Zabenz had won the allowance
race, I wasn't going to assign him more than 150 pounds for the
Turf Writers'. I really believe the addition of blinkers and the
soft going explain his form reversal. The American horses aren't
used to the deep going that they had to run over in the Turf Writers'
after the heavy rains we got all day, while Zabenz had run under
those conditions before and appeared to like them."
Trainers
Tom Voss was the only trainer to win more than one steeplechase
race at Saratoga this year, capturing three of the eight jump
races carded. The master of Monkton, Maryland started 11 horses
in those eight races, but failed to hit the board in either of
the two graded stakes races. At the conclusion of the Saratoga
meet he lead all steeplechase trainers with 19 wins so far this
year, seven more than Jonathan Sheppard and Sanna Neilson.
"I point my horses to the Saratoga meet all year," said Voss,
who has been the leading steeplechase trainer in each of the past
two years. "I've been fortunate enough to be successful both over
fences and on the flat up here," said the former trainer of Grade
I flat winner John's Call.
Although he won only one race, Hall of Fame conditioner Jonathan
Sheppard tightened the girth on 12 steeplechasers at the Spa tops
among all trainers. Frequently the bridesmaid, Sheppard's horses
finished second on five occasions and hit the board an impressive
67% of the time. In contrast to Voss, Sheppard tasted success
in both of the graded stakes races, winning the Smithwick with
It's A Giggle and finishing second in the Turf Writers' with Double
Leaf (GB).
While she has challenged for the leading trainer title in each
of the last two years, Sanna Neilson was light in the entry box
this year at Saratoga, entering only five horses, three of whom
pulled-up before completing their races. Worse yet was that Neilson,
who trains for George Stawbridge's Augustin Stable, did not have
a starter in either of the two graded stakes races. "Although
we did have one winner at Saratoga, things just didn't work out
for us up there this year," said Neilson. "We hope to come back
strong this fall with some of our stakes horses."
At the conclusion of the Saratoga season there were four trainers
tied in the standings with nine victories apiece: Jack Fisher,
Kathy Neilson, Ricky Hendricks and Bruce Miller. Fisher only started
three horses at Saratoga but hit the board twice when Shamrock
Isle won an allowance race and then finished third in the Turf
Writers'. Kathy Neilson won the first race of the meet but the
remainder of her five starters all finished out of the money.
Former steeplechase jockey Ricky Hendricks sent six horses to
the post and hit the board at a 50% clip, including a second in
the Grade II Smithwick with Tres Touche. Miller started only one
horse (Tallow) two times without success. His lack of support
for steeplechasing at the Saratoga was surprising given that his
biggest owner, Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords, is a member of the NYRA
board.
Jockeys
There were some unusual developments involving the jockeys who
rode over fences this year at Saratoga. Who could have predicted
that Blythe Miller would fall at the last fence in the first two
races of the meet? Or that Michael Traurig would finish second
in all five races that he rode, including four races in a row
at the end of the season? Or that leading rider Gus Brown would
pull-up half of the horses that he competed on before reaching
the finish line?
Riding horses that fall is an occupational hazard that all steeplechase
jockeys endure, with that unfortunate outcome occurring approximately
once out of every 12 trips to the post. But when four horses fell
in the first three races at Saratoga this year, some of the members
the steeplechase jockey colony couldn't be blamed if they began
to consider alternative professions. The situation evened itself
out over the remainder of the meeting, as not a single horse fell
during the last five steeplechase races at Saratoga resulting
in a fall percentage of 6%, lower than the typical average of
approximately 8%.
The good news for journeyman Michael Traurig is the he racked
up the highest in-the-money percentage of any steeplechase jockey
at the meet, hitting the board every time he rode. The bad news
for Traurig is that he accomplished that feat without winning
a race. Even more unusual, Traurig was the runner-up in all five
races that he rode, including the last four races of the season.
He accomplished this feat twice on Storm Touch, twice while riding
Miles Ahead (dispatched as the favorite in both of those races),
and once on Double Leaf (GB). Traurig finished among the top-10
leading jockeys for the first time in his career last year when
he registered 9 victories from 69 mounts, but he has only visited
the winner's circle once from 40 trips to the post this year.
He is the son of successful show ring rider Bernie Traurig, and
he was recently married to steeplechase trainer Kathy Neilson.
Gus "Buster" Brown has been the leading steeplechase jockey in
the United States in each of the past two seasons and leads all
steeplechase jockeys again this year with 12 wins from 60 mounts.
Given his credentials it is not surprising that Brown that Brown
was only one of two jockeys to ride in all eight steeplechase
races this year at Saratoga (Robert Massey was the other). Nor
is it surprising that Brown tied with Cyril Murphy for the most
victories (two) this year at Saratoga. What is surprising is that
Brown failed to finish half of the races that he competed in,
pulling-up his mount four times before the finish, twice as many
times as any other jockey. In Brown's defense, only one of those
horses was the favorite (It's A Giggle), and the other three horses
went postward at odds of 8-1 or better.
Betting Handle
The betting handle on steeplechase races at Saratoga this year
was comparable to those registered in recent years, with approximately
$500,000 bet on each steeplechase race, or roughly half of the
average handled on flat races at the meet. Yet while bettors understandably
tend to tread lightly with a racing product that they are not
familiar with, it is important to note that, based on handle figures
provided by the NYRA, handicappers actually tended to wager more
throughout the course of a day on cards that included steeplechase
races compared to those that do not.
The table below shows the total handle for each Wednesday during
the Saratoga meet. Steeplechase races were contested on two of
those six days, July 31st and August 28th. Since the most significant
variable that effects total handle is attendance, the total handle
figures were divided by the attendance that day to come up with
an average wagered per person for each Wednesday of the season.
As the chart shows, the two highest average amounts wagered per
person occurred on the two Wednesday's during the meet when a
steeplechase race was included on the card.
| Date |
Ontrack Handle
|
Ontrack Attendance
|
Average Wagered
|
| July 24 |
$3,723,441
|
32,913
|
$113
|
| July 31* |
$2,016,559
|
14,521
|
$139
|
| August 7 |
$2,805,355
|
22,766
|
$123
|
| August 14 |
$2,432,415
|
19,551
|
$124
|
| August 21 |
$2,864,388
|
21,432
|
$134
|
| August 28* |
$2,369,342
|
17,610
|
$135
|
* = steeplechase race carded that day.
Despite the fact that steeplechase racing does not diminish the
average daily handle, handicappers still wager less on steeplechase
races than on flat races, a trend that doesn't exist in Europe
where steeplechase racing is much more prevalent. In an attempt
to understand this phenomenon, Daily Racing Form publisher and
noted pick-six handicapper Steve Crist was asked what steps he
would take to increase the handle on steeplechase races
"I really don't have any specific recommendations about how to
increase the handle on steeplechase races but I'll be glad to
tell you why the handle is low", Crist replied. "I think the problem
is it's as if you suddenly ask people at Saratoga to handicap
an Arabian race or a harness race or a jai ali match in the middle
of the card. These are completely unfamiliar horses. Nobody has
seen the races that they're coming out of and the basic fundamentals
of handicapping, such as speed figures and pace match-ups, that
you can use if you don't have comprehensive knowledge of the horses
involved, are not transferable to steeplechasing. But I think
with steeplechase races people are absolutely lost and don't know
where to begin. If someone wants some handicapping action they
can go play the fifth at Monmouth and apply those handicapping
tools without having any prior knowledge of the horses involved."
Crist agreed that adding internal fractions for the final mile
of each steeplechase race would give handicappers a basis to compare
steeplechase form for horses coming out of different races at
varying hunt meets. This information would be especially useful
in light of Crist's steeplechase handicapping experiment that
he conducted several years ago: "I tried to make figures for each
steeplechase race using the final time and distance of each race
as variables, as well as the weight each horse carried. I came
to the conclusion that it was an exercise in complete futility.
In particular I found that using the final time of each race is
not a good barometer when comparing relative steeplechase form."
Crist acknowledged that he was much more confident handicapping
steeplechase stakes races at Saratoga. "The stakes races handle
a lot better because you're not dealing with horses that may pull-up
or that don't know how to jump well. Plus the horses in those
races tend to have more running lines against each other, which
makes them easier to compare."
As for simulcasting steeplechase races into New York tracks and
OTB outlets throughout the steeplechase season, Crist was skeptical.
"That idea sounds good in principle because it would allow handicappers
to become familiar with steeplechase form, but NYRA is limited
in the amount of outside signals it can take during the year,
and would people watch jump races at OTB, or would they go bet
Prairie Meadows?"
NSA Director of Racing Bill Gallo believes that steeplechase
races would attract handicappers if they were simulcast to OTB
parlors, especially of those parlors were located in Europe. "The
handle on steeplechase races in England Ireland and France is
comparable to that handled on flat races," said Gallo. "I think
Europe could be an untapped market for our steeplechase races,
especially since they would be broadcast during early evening
hours when there wouldn't be competition from other their live
racing product."
When asked about the lack of wagering opportunities for the Breeders'
Cup Steeplechase, to be run in Far Hills, New Jersey, on October
19th, Gallo commented that the NSA board was exploring options
that would allow handicappers to place a wager on the Breeders'
Cup Steeplechase at an off-site locations or via a telephone wagering
accounts. "It's frustrating," lamented Gallo, "New Jersey is a
pari-mutuel state so you wouldn't think it would be that difficult
to accomplish. I remember the early simulcast days in the mid-80's
when the Colonial Cup, which was run in a state that doesn't allow
pari-mutuel wagering (South Carolina), was broadcast to the OTB
shops in New York."
While the NTRA is taking future book wagers for the first time
on this year's Breeder's Cup races, there are currently no plans
to expand that wager to include the Breeders' Cup Steeplechase.
"That's another handicapping opportunity that I'd like to see
made available to the public," Gallo commented.
Eclipse Award Picture Hazy
With two-thirds of the 2002 steeplechase season behind us the
battle for Eclipse award honors is wide open. The New York Turf
Writers' Cup was the fourth unrestricted Grade I race sanctioned
by the National Steeplechase Association this year, and a different
horse has captured the laurels in each event: Canta Ke Brave won
the Colonial Cup after Lord Zada was disqualified, It's A Giggle
captured the Royal Chase and All Gong (GB) won the Iroquois. The
Novice ranks are also a jumble, as McDynamo, Anofferucantrefuse
and Sharp Face each took a different leg of the Steeplechase Triple
Crown.
