Post-Race Analysis:
New Kent, Virginia, July 14, 2001- Mrs. F. Eugene Dixon's Indispensable
upset a field of six in the $50,000 Grade III Zeke Ferguson, romping
home to an 11 1/2-length victory at odds of 24-1. Mrs. Stephen C.
Clark's Avanico finished second at 13-1 completing a $315.20 exacta.
Grade I winner Al Skywalker was another 9 1/2-lengths back in third,
two lengths in front of the odds-on favorite Quel Senor (Fr). The
time for the 2 1/4 mile hurdle race run over a firm course was 4:08.2,
well off the stakes record of 3:59.1 established by Spring Salute
last year.
Indispensable was unhurried early, racing in last place for much
of the race before making a 3-wide move around the final turn and
drawing away through the stretch to win with authority. It was quite
a contrast to his previous race where he had finished sixth beaten
more than 36 lengths by Quel Senor. The Ferguson was the first stakes
victory of Indispensable's long steeplechase career. The 7-year-old
gelding's has now won four of 21 lifetime hurdle starts while bankrolling
$134,435.
Indispensable was bred in Maryland by Michael P. Cataneo. He is
a son of Mane Minister (by Deputy Minister), who has the distinction
of being the first and only horse to finish third in all three triple
crown races, having accomplished that feat in 1991. Congaree finished
third in this year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness before passing
the Belmont. When Mr. Cataneo mated Indispensable's dam, Spellcast,
to Mane Minister he achieved a unique double 5S x 5D cross to both
Intermediate and Solid Chef-de-Race Princequillo and to Brilliant
and Classic Chef-de-Race Rough'n Tumble, sire of the legendary Dr.
Fager.
Indispensable is trained by Jack Fisher and was ridden for the
first time J.W. Delozier. The win enabled Fisher to climb into a
three-way tie with Tom Voss and Sana Neilson for leading steeplechase
trainer honors. Each conditioner has notched 10 victories so far
this year.
Second-place finisher Avanico is headed to Saratoga and will make
his next start in the Grade II Smithwick on August 9th. "We
were very pleased with the way Avanico ran, and that race should
set him up nicely for the Smithwick," said Avanico's trainer,
former steeplechase jockey James "Chuckie" Lawrence. The 10-year-old
son of turf Champion Manila (by Lyphard) was off last year but was
a multiple Graded stakes winner in 1999.
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|
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Al Skywalker and Tom Foley shown here
capturing the Grade I Carolina Cup earlier this year, had
to settle for third in the Grade III Ferguson.
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Jennifer Majette's Al Skywalker, who captured the
$100,000 Grade I Carolina Cup and the $50,000 Grade III National
Hunt Cup at Radnor earlier this year, led the field into the final
turn but had no punch as he faded through the stretch. The 8-year-old
gelding, who finished second to Spring Salute in last year's running
of the Ferguson, was carrying high-weight of 154 pounds, nine more
than Indispensable and 10 more than Avanico. Al Skywalker was ridden
by apprentice sensation Tom Foley, who is currently tied for third
place in the steeplechase jockey standings with seven wins from
41 mounts this year.
Coppertree Farm's Quel Senor (Fr) was trying Graded steeplechase
company for the first time in the Ferguson after winning the $30,000
Miles Valentine at Fair Hill in his last start. The 6-year-old son
of Tel Quel (Fr), by Akarad (Fr), has won over $145,000 on the flat
including the Grade III Prince d'Orange in France. His fourth-place
finish in the Ferguson was his worst placing from five starts over
hurdles in the United States. Quel Senor carried second high-weight
of 152 pounds and was ridden by Irishman Cyril Murphy.
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Darn Tipalarm shown here leading Al Skywalker
in the National Hunt Cup at Radnor on May 19th. Al Skywalker
finished third in the Ferguson while Darn Tipalarm was last.
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Pierre Manigault's Little Hurt raced forwardly in the early stages
of the Ferguson and then dropped back to finish seventh.
Mrs. Henry F. Stern's Darn Tipalarm, who had finished second to
Al Skywalker in the Grade III National Hunt Cup in his previous
start, led early in the Ferguson before fading to last and eventually
leaving the course his last time through the stretch. He was ridden
by veteran steeplechase jockey Chip Miller.
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Veteran steeplechase jockey Chip Miller
replaced Craig Thorton on Darn Tipalarm in the Grade III Ferguson.
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Praise The Prince (NZ) and Golden Marvel (Fr) both scratched before
the race. Spring Salute, last year's winner of the Ferguson, was
scratched after flipping over backwards twice in the paddock while
attempting to be saddled.
The complete results of the Ferguson are set forth below.
To play the Steeplestakes.com Summer 2001 Handicapping Contest
click here.
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Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Indispensable |
145 |
Delozier |
Fisher |
Mrs. F. Eugene Dixon |
|
2
|
Avanico |
144 |
Bentley |
Lawrence |
Mrs. Stephen C. Clark |
|
3
|
Al Skywalker |
154 |
Foley |
Majette |
Jennifer J. Majette |
|
4
|
Quel Senor (Fr) |
152 |
Murphy |
Voss |
Coppertree Farm |
|
5
|
Little Hurt |
142 |
Cooney |
Rosenbaum |
Pierre Manigault |
|
PU
|
Darn Tipalarm |
146 |
C. Miller |
Fisher |
Mrs. Henry F. Stern |
|
Scr
|
Spring Salute |
148 |
|
S. Neilson |
Landslide Farm |
|
Scr
|
Golden Marvel (Fr) |
144 |
|
Fout |
Beverly Steinman |
|
Scr
|
Praise The Prince (NZ) |
160 |
|
S. Neilson |
Augustin Stables |
| Winner: |
Indispensable - Bay Gelding, March 15th,
1994
Bred by Michael P. Cataneo in MD |
| Pedigree: |
Mane Minister - Spellcast, by Fappiano |
| Scratched Horses: |
Spring Salute, Praise the Prince (NZ), Golden
Marvel (FR) |
| Pgm |
Horse |
Win |
Place |
Show |
| 8 |
Indispensable |
50.00 |
15.60 |
4.40 |
| 6 |
Avanico |
|
9.20 |
4.80 |
| 5 |
Al Skywalker |
|
|
3.00 |
| Wager Type |
Winning Numbers |
Payoff |
Pool |
Carryover |
| $2 Exacta |
8-6 |
315.20 |
35,577 |
|
| Pgm |
Comment |
| 8 |
Indispensable - unhurried early, 3 wide final
turn, pulled away, driving |
| 6 |
Avanico - unhurried early, circled final turn,
best of others |
| 5 |
Al Skywalker - led into final turn, weakened |
| 7 |
Quel Senor (FR) - forward factor early, gave
way |
| 2 |
Little Hurt - dropped back |
| 1 |
Darn Tipalarm - forward factor, tired, left
course |
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Pedigree of Winner
|
INDISPENSABLE G, 1994 DP = 8-7-9-0-0
(24) DI = 4.33 CD = 0.96
|
Pedigrees compliments of Del
Mar Pedigree Query
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner
