Post-Race Analysis:
Ninepins jumped his way into contention for steeplechase horse-of-the-year
honors by winning the 59th running of The $100,000 Grade I New York
Turf Writer's Cup by 3 1/2 lengths over high-weight Campanile. Ninepin's
stablemate Allgrit finished third while Approaching Squall nosed
out Golden Rule (GB) for fourth. Ninepins covered the 2 and 3/8ths
miles over the soft course in 4:21.07, well off the stakes and course
record of 4:12 set by Hokan in 1998.
Ninepins was shipped to Japan this Spring where he finished ninth
in the $1.4 million Nakayama Grand Jump on April 15th. He was then
given almost four months off before making his next start in the
A.P. Smithwick, where he finished fifth. "I was afraid he was
beginning to lose a step, especially considering his advanced age
(13)" said Hall-of-Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard after the
race. "He needed his last race and we expected him to move
forward. He likes a distance of ground, especially when it has some
give to it."
Approaching Squall went to the front by five lengths as the field
straightened away down the backside the last time. Campanile made
an aggressive move to take the lead just before the last fence down
the backside, and held the lead around the turn. "He was spotting
a lot of weight (10 pounds) to Ninepins and still ran a huge race,"
said Campanile's jockey Blythe Miller. "Campy is a tough horse
who never gives up."
Ninepins was fifth down the backside the last time and moved into
third place behind Approaching Squall around the final turn. As
the field turned for home jockey Arch Kingsley gunned Ninepins up
along-side Campanile approaching the last fence. Ninepins flew the
last fence while Campanile chipped-in. "He missed the last
fence" said Campanile's trainer Janet Elliot, "But I thought
he ran a tremendous race. He is still a star horse." Campanile
had won both of the Graded steeplechase races run at Saratoga (the
Smithwick and the Turf Writer's Cup) in 1999 and took this year's
edition of the Smithwick, but his bid to become the first horse
ever to win both of those races in consecutive years was stymied
by Ninepins.
Former champion steeplechase jockey Arch Kingsley, Jr. was thrilled
with the way Ninepins jumped: "He fenced superbly; I give him
an 11 out of 10" said Kingsley after the race. "This horse
will run over broken glass. I knew he'ld have something left turning
for home today as his last race did him a world of good. Campanile
ran a great race, but we got the better of him today."
Golden Rule, who won the Grade II Marcellus Frost Handicap at Iroquois
on May 13th before finishing a game second in the Smithwick, had
no response when roused in the stretch.
Aggro Craig, who had been a model of consistency before the Turf
Writer's Cup, got a bad start and trailed throughout.
Soaringoverseattle and Romantic both left the course before the
last fence.
Sheppard expects that Ninepins will have a Fall campaign similar
tolast year's when he won the Grade I Breeder's Cup Grand National
and the Grade I Colonial Cup. Ninepins was the leading NSA money-earner
last year, but championship honors went to Lonesome Glory, who was
in Saratoga to lead the post parade of this year's Turf Writer's
Cup.
With two-thirds of the 2000 steeplechase season in the books, championship
honors are still very much up in the air. The National Steeplechase
Association has now run five unrestricted Grade I races this year,
and each race has been won by a different horse: Campanile was first
under the wire in the Colonial Cup but Invest West was declared
the winner in a controversial decision that is under appeal; All
Gong (GB) won the Atlanta Cup; Flat Top won the Royal Chase; and
the Iroquois was captured by Pinkie Swear.
The complete results of the New York Turf Writer's Cup are set
forth below.
 |
|
Lonesome Glory, the only horse ever to named steeplechase
Champion five times, led the post parade of the Grade
I New York Turf Writer's.
|
Soaringoverseattle (left) and eventual winner
Ninepins jump the second fence together.
(Ted Cushny photo)
|
|
 |
 |
|
Romantic (#5) leads Ninepins (right) over the third fence.
|
Romantic (right) leads Campanile over the seventh fence
followed by Soaringoverseattle, Ninepins, Allgrit and Golden
Rule.
(Ted Cushny photo)
|
|
 |
 |
|
Approaching Squall took the lead at the eighth fence with
Campanile in close pursuit.
|
Ninepins and Campanile approached the last fence together,
but Campanile chipped-in allowing Ninepins to gain approximately
two lengths.
(Ted Cushny photo)
|
|
 |
 |
|
Ninepins was all alone at the wire, winning the New York
Turf Writer's Cup by 3 1/2 lengths.
|
An ecstatic Arch Kingsley, Jr. aboard Ninepins in the
winner's circle after winning the Grade I New York Turf
Writer's Cup.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Ninepins with his groom in the winner's circle.
|
Owner Ed Swyer (fifth from right) receives the New York
Turf Writer's Cup from Dave Grening of the Daily Racing
Form as Wendy Fletcher (red dress), Arch Kingsley, Jr. and
winning trainer Jonathan Sheppard (far right) look on.
|
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 |
| |
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Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Ninepins (GB) |
150 |
Kingsley |
Sheppard |
Hudson River Farms |
|
2
|
Campanile |
160 |
Miller |
Elliot |
Gregory D. Hawkins |
|
3
|
Allgrit |
138 |
Brown |
Sheppard |
Hudson River Farms |
|
4
|
Approaching Squall |
142 |
Murphy |
Voss |
The Fields Stable |
|
5
|
Golden Rule (GB) |
152 |
Thornton |
Day |
Claytonville Stables |
|
6
|
Aggro Crag |
140 |
Marzullo |
Durkee |
Green Stripes Stables |
|
PU
|
Soaringoverseattle |
146 |
Horgan |
Voss |
Warren R. Dempsey |
|
PU
|
Romantic |
148 |
Delozier |
Sheppard |
Timber Bay Farm |
| Winner: |
Ninepins (GB) - Bay Gelding, April 23rd,
1987
Bred by Newtownbarry House Stud in GB |
| Pedigree: |
Niniski - Martinova, by Martinmas |
| Pgm |
Horse |
Win |
Place |
Show |
| 1 |
Ninepins (GB) |
10.00 |
3.80 |
4.60 |
| 7 |
Campanile |
|
2.80 |
2.60 |
| 1A |
Allgrit |
|
|
4.60 |
| Wager Type |
Winning Numbers |
Payoff |
Pool |
Carryover |
| $2 Pick 3 |
1-7-1
(3 correct) |
430.00 |
92,619 |
|
| $2 Exacta |
1-7 |
25.60 |
273,766 |
|
| $2 Trifecta |
1-7-3 |
219.50 |
258,625 |
|
| Pgm |
Comment |
| 1 |
Ninepins (GB): reserved early, outside move,
drew clear after last, driving |
| 7 |
Campanile: with pace, led over last, stayed
on gamely to finish |
| 1A |
Allgrit: close up in hand, stumbled over eleventh
fence, stayed on |
| 3 |
Approaching Squall: with pace, tired before
final fence |
| 4 |
Golden Rule (GB): reserved inside, no response
when roused |
| 2 |
Aggro Crag: tardy start, tired |
| 6 |
Soaringoverseattle: left course before last |
| 5 |
Romantic: left course before last |
| |
| Owners: |
1 Hudson River Farms; 7 Gregory D. Hawkins;
1A Hudson River Farms; 3 The Fields Stable; 4 Claytonville Stables;
2 Green Stripes Stables; 6 Warren R. Dempsey; 5 Timber Bay Farm |
| Trainers: |
1-Jonathan E. Sheppard, 7-Janet E. Elliot,
1A-Jonathan E. Sheppard, 3-Thomas H. Voss, 4-James M. Day, 2-H.
Brooks Durkee, 6-Thomas H. Voss, 5-Jonathan E. Sheppard |
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History of Previous Winners:
| Year |
Winner (Age) |
Jockey |
lbs
|
Second (Age) |
lbs. |
Third (Age) |
lbs. |
| 1970 |
El Martirio (6) |
Plain |
138 |
Wustenchef (5) |
151 |
Shadow Brook (6) |
155 |
| 1971 |
Soothsayer (4) |
Fishback |
153 |
Predominio (7) |
141 |
Shadow Brook (6) |
162 |
| 1975 |
Life's Illusion (4) |
Quanbeck |
145 |
Soothsayer (5) |
161 |
Artic Joe (8) |
148 |
| 1976 |
Happy Intellectual (10) |
Elser |
152 |
Life's Ilusion (5) |
160 |
Strait and True (6) |
155 |
| 1977 |
Happy Intellectual (11) |
Aitcheson |
152 |
Naval Person(5) |
143 |
Cassamayor(7) |
150 |
| 1978 |
Happy Intellectual (12) |
Martin |
152 |
Popular Hero (5) |
148 |
Leaping Frog (5) |
157 |
| 1979 |
Leaping Frog (6) |
Christinson |
159 |
Tan Jay (7) |
150 |
Canadian Regent (5) |
143 |
| 1980 |
Zaccio (4) |
McWade |
157 |
Running Comment (6) |
142 |
Leaping Frog (7) |
152 |
| 1981 |
Running Comment (7) |
McWade |
143 |
Codicioso (6) |
144 |
Red Invader (8) |
142 |
| 1982 |
Zaccio (6) |
Hendriks |
161 |
Give a Whirl (5) |
146 |
Running Comment (8) |
145 |
| 1983 |
Double Reefed (7) |
Cushman |
161 |
Sugar Bee (5) |
135 |
Census (5) |
148 |
| 1984 |
Flatterer (5) |
Fishback |
164 |
Census (6) |
155 |
Double Reefed (8) |
158 |
| 1986 |
Le Sauteur (7) |
Houghton |
157 |
Twas Ever Thus (7) |
15o |
Eremite (6) |
146 |
| 1987 |
Chief Of The Clan (4) |
Lawrence |
148 |
Gateshead (8) |
154 |
Chammsky (8) |
152 |
| 1988 |
Rio Claro (5) |
Morris |
152 |
Steve Canyon (8) |
162 |
Jive With Five (4) |
146 |
| 1989 |
Double Bill (6) |
Guessford |
142 |
Uptown Swell (7) |
152 |
Polar Pleasure (7) |
149 |
| 1990 |
Double Bill (7) |
Guessford |
146 |
French Hill (5) |
154 |
Peer Prince (5) |
134 |
| 1991 |
Yaw (9) |
Smart |
145 |
Moonstruck (8) |
148 |
Double Bill (8) |
149 |
| 1992 |
Yaw (10) |
Smart |
146 |
Three Bells For Me (5) |
140 |
Make Azilion (8) |
142 |
| 1993 |
Warm Spell (5) |
Lawrence |
161 |
Castlwworth (7) |
142 |
Darby Sky (6) |
145 |
| 1994 |
Mistico (8) |
Thornton |
168 |
Cheering News (7) |
142 |
Lonesome Glory (6) |
168 |
| 1995 |
Lonesome Glory (7) |
B.Miller |
166 |
Mistico (9) |
160 |
Rowdy Irishman (6) |
142 |
| 1996 |
Petroski (6) |
O'Brien |
160 |
T.V. Gold (6) |
140 |
Prime Legacy (7) |
138 |
| 1997 |
Bisbalense (8) |
Kingsley |
142 |
Confidente (8) |
140 |
Lonesome Glory (9) |
156 |
| 1998 |
Hokan (5) |
Clancy |
142 |
Romantic (6) |
143 |
Sundin (7) |
142 |
| 1999 |
Campanile (5) |
B. Miller |
148 |
Willstown |
138 |
Romantic (7) |
152 |
First run in 1938. Distance about 2 1/2 miles in 1970; about 2
5/8miles in 1971; 2 3/8 miles now. Run at Belmont Park 1970 &
1971. Not run 1972-74, or 1985.
back to top
Pedigree for Ninepins:
NINEPINS, G, 1987 DP = 2-1-12-4-3 (22) DI = 0.69 CD = -0.23
NEARCTIC
NORTHERN DANCER 1954
1961 [BC] NATALMA
NIJINSKY II 1957
1967 [CS] BULL PAGE
FLAMING PAGE 1947
1959 FLARING TOP
NINISKI 1947
1976 RIBOT
TOM ROLFE 1952 [CP]
1962 [CP] POCAHONTAS II
VIRGINIA HILLS 1955
1971 RIDAN
RIDIN' EASY 1959
1967 EASY EIGHT
1954
TOM FOOL
SILLY SEASON 1949 [IC]
1962 DOUBLE DEAL II
MARTINMAS 1946
1969 PRINCE CHEVALIER
CALVINE 1943 [C]
1960 DECEIVER
MARTINOVA 1955
1978 ARCTIC STAR
FIDALGO 1942
1956 MISS FRANCE
PAVLOVA 1946
1962 SUPREME COURT
TIME AND CHANCE 1948
1957 FOXTROT
1943
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Breeding Analysis:
Breeding Analysis of winner to follow.....
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Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree | Breeding
Analysis
