Post-Race Analysis:
August 30, 2001 - Saratoga Springs, New York: Saratoga lived up
to its reputation as "the graveyard of favorites" today,
as heavily-favored Praise The Prince was upset by William L. Pape's
It's A Giggle in the 60th running of the $100,000 Grade I New York
Turf Writers' Cup. It's A Giggle lead from start to finish, outlasting
Canta Ke Brave by a neck at the wire. High-weight Praise The Prince
finished another two lengths back in third at odds of 2-5. The time
for the 2 3/8ths miles test over 12 hurdles was an excellent 4:12.04,
tying the course and stakes record established by Hokan in 1998.
It's A Giggle benefited from a masterful ride from veteran jockey
Blythe Miller. The turf course was rock-hard, and speed had held-up
consistently in the four flat races run on the turf before the Turf
Writers' Cup. Miller used the natural speed of It's A Giggle to
establish tactical position on the front-end as soon as the starter's
flag was dropped, and then got her mount to relax while loose on
the lead. "He was able to relax all the way around," said
Ms. Miller after the race, as she also credited It's A Giggle for
his jumping ability. "He was fencing very well today. He nailed
the last three fences perfectly, and that's what you need in these
Grade I races."
|
|
|
Blythe Miller gave It's A Giggle a masterful
ride to win the Grade I New York Turf Writers' Cup. It was
the veteran's 189th career steeplechase victory, tops among
active steeplechase jockeys.
|
Miller rode It's A Giggle confidently, asking him for his best
run each time one of their competitor's tried to get by them. She
extended her lead as the field straightened away down the backside
the last time, but led Canta Ke Brave by only a half-length as they
headed into the final turn, with Gus Brown scrubbing furiously on
Praise The Prince close behind. Canta Ke Brave drew along side It's
A Giggle approaching the last fence, with Praise The Prince one
length behind them. It's A Giggle out-jumped Canta Ke Brave at the
last and dug in for the drive to the wire, refusing to yield to
Canta Ke Brave who was game in defeat.
Horses For Courses: It's A Giggle had already won two hurdle races
over the Saratoga steeplechase course this year before the Turf
Writers' Cup. The son of leading steeplechase sire Northern Baby
(by Northern Dancer) notched his first victory on August 1st when
he could have been claimed for $35,000. The 7-year-old gelding then
came back two weeks later to capture a starter's allowance race
at the same 2 3/8ths mile distance as the Turf Writers' Cup.
It's A Giggle is in-bred 4x5 to some of the finest stallions in
thoroughbred history: Nearco, Princequillo and Nasrullah (a son
of Nearco). He is also in-bred to Double Jay 5x5. He has a dosage
index of 1.75, a center of distribution is 0.64 and his dosage profile
is 8-3-6-5-0 (22).
"It's A Giggle was dangerous on the lead without a lot of
pressure," said Sanna Neilson, the trainer of Praise The Prince.
"Since he won over this course twice, he appeared to be in
great form. We were giving him 18 pounds, and that's a lot of weight
to make up on a front-runner on hard ground. I knew we were up against
it when I watched the turf races yesterday."
Miller was the only jockey in the race to have previously won this
Grade I fixture, having done so twice before (1995 on five-time
steeplechase Champion Lonesome Glory, and 1999 aboard Campanile).
The Turf Writers' Cup was her 189th career victory in a steeplechase
race, tops among active steeplechase jockeys. In recent years Miller
has cut-down on the number of mounts she accepts, and this was only
her fourth victory from 38 mounts so far this year.
The Turf Writers' Cup was Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard's
second Grade I victory at Saratoga this year. His first came when
With Anticipation captured the $500,000 Grade I Sword Dancer Handicap
on August 11th. Prior to the Turf Writers' Cup Sheppard was having
an off-year with his jumpers, having notched only six winners from
58 steeplechase starters. He had won the Turf Writers' Cup 10 times
before with Leaping Frog (1979), Flatterer (1984), Bobby Burns (1985),
Double Bill (1989 & 1990), Yaw (1991 & 1992), Mistico (1994),
Bisbalense (1997), and Ninepins (last year).
|
|
|
Jonathan Sheppard captured The Grade
I New York Turf Writers' Cup for the 11th time in his brilliant
career. It was the Hall of Fame trainer's second Grade I victory
at Saratoga this year.
|
"We had high hopes for It's A Giggle when he was younger,"
said Sheppard after the race, "but he had missed three years
of training with leg problems. When he won two races here my gut
feeling was to try him against Grade I company. Now we'll point
him toward the Breeders' Cup."
Augustin Stables' Praise The Prince (NZ), a multiple Grade I winner
over fences this year, carried high-weight of 160 pounds for the
Turf Writers' Cup, eight more than second place finisher Canta Ke
Brave and 18 more than the remaining four starters, including winner
It's A Giggle. The son of Prince of Praise (NZ) (by Crossways (GB))
seemed to labor under his high impost, as he failed to close any
ground on It's A Giggle after the last fence. "I was hoping
that one of the other horses would put more pressure on It's A Giggle,
because he's a free-running horse," said this year's leading
steeplechase jockey Gus Brown. "That didn't really happen.
We were right there at the the last fence, but I could never gain
anything on the run-in."
Praise The Prince had made three starts in Grade I hurdle races
earlier this year, competing in all three races that comprise the
Steeplechase Triple Crown for novices. The 6-year-old New Zealand-bred
came within a neck of capturing the Steeplechase Triple Crown, winning
the first and third legs of the series and leading a few strides
from the finish of the second leg before he was nipped at the wire.
The Turf Writers' Cup was his first start in a Grade I steeplechase
stake race that is not restricted to novices.
Augustin Stables' Lord Zada scratched. Mrs. Stephen C. Clark's
Avanico fell at the last fence.
With less than three months left in the 2001 steeplechase season
the battle for Elipse award honors is wide open. The Turf Writers'
Cup was the fifth unrestricted Grade I race sanctioned by the National
Steeplechase Association this year, and a different horse has captured
the laurels in each event: Al Skywalker won the Colonial Cup, Electron
took the Atlanta Cup, Pompeyo (Chi) captured the Royal Chase and
Rand (NZ) won the Iroquois.
The complete order of finish for the New York Turf Writers' Cup
are set forth below.
To see the final standings for Steeplestakes.com Summer 2001 Handicapping
Contest click
here.
back to top
Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
It's A Giggle |
142 |
B. Miller |
Sheppard |
William L. Pape |
|
2
|
Canta Ke Brave |
152 |
Massey |
Day |
Claytonville Stable |
|
3
|
Praise The Prince (NZ) |
160 |
Brown |
S. Neilson |
Augustin Stables |
|
4
|
Aggro Crag |
142 |
McCarron |
Murphy |
Green Stripes Stables |
|
5
|
Spring Salute |
144 |
Horgan |
S. Neilson |
Landslide Farm |
|
Fell
|
Avanico |
142 |
Bentley |
Lawrence |
Mrs. Stephen C. Clark |
|
Scr
|
Lord Zada |
|
|
S. Neilson |
Augustin Stables |
| Winner: |
It's a Giggle - Bay Gelding, May 26th, 1994
Bred by William L. Pape & Jonathan E.Sheppard in PA |
| Pedigree: |
Northern Baby - Martie's Delighted, by Mo
Bay |
| Scratched Horses: |
Lord Zada |
| Pgm |
Horse |
Win |
Place |
Show |
| 3 |
It's a Giggle |
8.50 |
4.90 |
2.10 |
| 5 |
Canta Ke Brave |
|
7.60 |
2.10 |
| 1 |
Praise the Prince (NZ) |
|
|
2.10 |
| Wager Type |
Winning Numbers |
Payoff |
Pool |
Carryover |
| $2 Pick 3 |
2-6-3
(3 correct) |
2,109.00 |
73,112 |
|
| $2 Pic 4 |
6-2-6-3
(4 correct) |
3,074.00 |
213,132 |
|
| $2 Daily Double |
6-3 |
35.80 |
189,018 |
|
| $2 Exacta |
3-5 |
47.00 |
239,608 |
|
| $2 Trifecta |
3-5-1 |
87.50 |
224,767 |
|
| Pgm |
Comment |
| 3 |
It's a Giggle - made pace, responded when
called on, dug in resolutely, driving |
| 5 |
Canta Ke Brave - reserved early, outside move,
stayed on gamely outside |
| 1 |
Praise the Prince (NZ) - reserved early, good
run final turn, labored after last fence |
| 6 |
Aggro Crag - tired |
| 4 |
Spring Salute - jumped poorly, tired |
| 2 |
Avanico - fell over final fence |
| Footnotes
|
|
IT'S A GIGGLE made the pace,
responded when called on, dug in resolutely and prevailed
under a drive. CANTA KE BRAVE was reserved early, rallied
outside and stayed on gamely to the finish. PRAISE THE PRINCE
(NZ) was reserved early, put in a run on the final turn and
labored after the last jump. AGGRO CRAG tired. SPRING SALUTE
jumped poorly and tired. AVANICO fell over the final fence.
|
back to top
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 |
| 2000 |
Ninepins (13) |
Kingsley |
150 |
Campanile (6) |
160 |
Allgrit |
138 |
Pedigree of Winner
IT'S A GIGGLE (USA) b. G, 1994 DP
= 8-3-6-5-0 (22) DI = 1.75 CD = 0.64
|
IT'S
A GIGGLE (USA)
b. 1994
|
NORTHERN
BABY (CAN)
b. 1976
17-5-2-5
$337,357 |
NORTHERN
DANCER (CAN)*
b. 1961 [BC]
18-14-2-2
$580,806 |
NEARCTIC
(CAN)*
br. 1954
47-21-5-3
$152,384 |
NEARCO
(ITY)*
br. 1935 [BC]
Article |
|
PHAROS
(GB)* |
b. 1920 [I] |
13-e |
| NOGARA
(ITY)* |
b. 1928 |
4-r |
LADY
ANGELA (GB)
ch. 1944 |
HYPERION
(GB)* |
ch. 1930 [BC] |
6-e |
| SISTER
SARAH (GB)* |
br. 1930 |
14-c |
NATALMA
(USA)*
b. 1957
7-3-0-2
$16,015 |
NATIVE
DANCER (USA)*
gr. 1950 [IC] |
POLYNESIAN
(USA)* |
br. 1942 [I] |
14-a |
| GEISHA
(USA)* |
ro. 1943 |
5-f |
ALMAHMOUD
(USA)**
ch. 1947 |
MAHMOUD
(FR)* |
gr. 1933 [IC] |
9-c |
| ARBITRATOR
(USA) |
b. 1937 |
2-d |
TWO
RINGS (USA)
b. 1970
31-9-5-4
$51,472 |
ROUND
TABLE (USA)*
b. 1954 [S]
66-43-8-5
$1,749,869 |
PRINCEQUILLO
(GB)*
b. 1940 [IS] |
|
PRINCE
ROSE (GB) |
b. 1928 [C] |
10-c |
| COSQUILLA
(IRE) |
b. 1933 |
1-b |
KNIGHTS
DAUGHTER (GB)**
b. 1941 |
SIR
COSMO (IRE) |
br. 1926 [B] |
6-a |
| FEOLA
(GB)* |
br. 1933 |
2-f |
ALLOFTHEM
(USA)
ch. 1964
16-4-3-3
$17,785 |
BAGDAD
(USA)
br. 1956 |
DOUBLE
JAY (USA)* |
|
dkb/br. 1944 [B] |
14-a |
| BAZURA
(GB) |
ch. 1947 |
14-b |
GAL
I LOVE (USA)
ch. 1959 |
NASRULLAH
(IRE)* |
|
b. 1940 [B] |
9-c |
| GALLITA
(USA) |
ch. 1945 |
17-b |
MARTIE'S
DELIGHTED
1977
|
MO
BAY
dkb/br. 1969
71-22-10-16
$350,898 |
CYANE
(USA)
b. 1959
14-6-4-1
$176,367 |
TURN-TO
(IRE)*
b. 1951 [BI] |
ROYAL
CHARGER (GB)* |
ch. 1942 [B] |
9-c |
| SOURCE
SUCREE (FR)* |
br. 1940 |
1-w |
YOUR
GAME (USA)
br. 1948 |
BEAU
PERE (GB)* |
br. 1927 |
3-e |
| WINKLE
(GB) |
b. 1939 |
16-b |
RUM
BOTTLE BAY
b. 1959
34-4-8-6
$27,015 |
THINKING
CAP
dkb/br. 1952 |
ROSEMONT
(USA)* |
b. 1932 |
4-m |
| CAMARGO |
b. 1944 |
1-a |
SEA
SNACK
b. 1943 |
HARD
TACK* |
ch. 1926 |
9 |
| MISS
FERDINAND |
b. 1937 |
1-a |
MARTIE'S
MAD
1966
|
MARTINS
RULLAH
b. 1955
61-8-4-9
$103,572 |
NASRULLAH
(IRE)*
b. 1940 [B] |
|
NEARCO
(ITY)* |
|
br. 1935 [BC] |
4-r |
| MUMTAZ
BEGUM (FR)* |
b. 1932 |
9-c |
SHY
KATIE
b. 1945 |
ROMAN
(USA)* |
b. 1937 |
20-a |
| FAIR
WEATHER |
b. 1940 |
1-m |
WIG
CRAZE
1961
|
DEDICATE
(USA)
b. 1952 |
PRINCEQUILLO
(GB)* |
|
b. 1940 [IS] |
1-b |
| DINI
(USA) |
ch. 1936 |
23-b |
JOTA
JOTA
br. 1954 |
DOUBLE
JAY (USA)* |
|
dkb/br. 1944 [B] |
14-a |
| HOPEFULLY |
1947 |
19-c |
|
|
Pedigrees compliments of Del
Mar Pedigree Query
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner
