Post-Race Analysis:
May 2, 2002 - Louisville, Kentucky: McDynamo dominated the first
leg of the Steeplechase Triple Crown, galloping to an easy 2 1/4
length victory over Najjm in the $100,000 Grade I Hard Scuffle at
historic Churchill Downs. Miles Ahead was another 11 and 1/4 lengths
back in third. The final time for the 2 1/8-mile test run over a
yielding course was 3:48.0, almost three seconds off the track record
of 3:45.1 set by Pompeyo (Chi) over a firm course in 2000.
McDynamo's victory gave winning trainer Sanna Neilson her third
consecutive Hard Scuffle win.
Owned by Michael J. Moran, McDynamo is now undefeated in all three
of his career starts over fences. The 5-year-old son of Dynaformer
(by Roberto)McDynamo gave notice that he will be a force to be reckoned
with this spring given the ease with which he captured this Grade
I event. New Zealand jockey Craig Thornton had McDynamo under stout
restraint for the first mile of the race, tracking the pace setter
Unalienable Right until those two approached the sixth fence. At
that point Thornton had McDynamo's head cocked so far to the left
in an effort to restrain him that the two front-runners bumped repeatedly.
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McDynamo with jockey Craig Thornton up,
shown here with (left to right in back row) owner Michael
J. Moran and trainer Sanna Neilson at Far Hills, New Jersey
last fall.
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McDynamo jumped to the front of the pack over the sixth fence
and never looked back, as Thornton could no longer hold him off
the lead. Still racing under a firm hold, McDynamo stood way-off
at the seventh fence and jumped flawlessly as he lead the field
down the backside the final time.
"I thought he moved to the front a little early, but Craig is a
good front-end rider and I thought he wouldn't let him go if he
didn't have plenty of horse," said Nielson after the race. "It didn't
look like he had a hard grueling race."
Blythe Miller began moving the 6-5 favorite Najjm into contention
around the clubhouse turn the last time and had dead-aim on McDynamo
as he moved into second place at the eighth fence. Yet despite constant
urging from Ms. Miller, Najjm could not get closer than a length
to McDynamo at any time during the race.
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Michael J.Moran's McDynamo, shown here
breaking his maiden at Far Hills last fall, captured the Grade
I Hard Scuffle in authoritative fashion.
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As the field rounded the final turn, McDynamo continued his dominance;
Thornton still had a good hold of him and had yet to ask McDynamo
for his best run. Meanwhile, Ethical Actions made a huge move to
draw even with Najjm in second place, while Miles Ahead launched
his bid from the back of the pack.
When he field hit the top of the stretch, Najjm loomed up boldly
as if he might challenge for the lead, but Thornton simply let a
notch out of his hold on McDynamo, who galloped off to an authoritative
victory, lengthening his margin of victory with every stride.
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Najjm, owned by Mrs. S.K. Johnston, Jr.
(in hat) finished second in the Grade I Hard Scuffle, completing
the Dynaformer exacta.
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Mrs. S.K. Johnston's Najjm carried top weight of 160
pounds, nine more than McDynamo. Trained by Bruce Miller and ridden
by his daughter Blythe Najjm was purchased from English steeplechase
trainer Nicky Henderson. The son of Dynaformer (by Roberto) rolled
to a four-length win in his 2002 debut April 13 at Atlanta where
he defeated Mr. Fater, Ethical Actions and Sharp Face.
The race was a showcase of sorts for Three Chimneys
Farm, as both the first and second place finishers in the Hard Scuffle
were sired by Dynaformer, who stands at Three Chimneys Farm for
$50,000 live foal. Dynaformer is also the sire of Perfect Drift,
who runs in the Kentucky Derby this weekend.
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Dynaformer, a son of Classic chef-de-race
Roberto, won the Grade II Jersey Derby and Grade II Discovery
Handicap, and sired both the first and second place finishers
in the Grade I Hard Scuffle.
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As expected, Miacomet Farm's Unalienable Right went right to the
front but could not sustain his lead and was pulled up after jumping
the sixth and seventh fences poorly. The 5-year-old gelding is a
son of Irish River (by Riverman) out of a Freedom Of Speech (by
Danzig), a half-sister to Grade I winner Finder's Fee. He underwent
his early lessons at Claiborne Farm and raced on the flat with trainer
Shug McGaughey for his breeder, the Phipps Stable before suffering
an injury tat ended his flat career.
Although no horse has swept the Steeplechase Triple Crown, one
horse has taken two legs of the series in each of its three runnings.
In 1999, Popular Gigalo won at Churchill Downs and Belmont Park.
In 2000, Pompeyo (Chi) won the first two legs at Churchill Downs
and Pimlico before finishing third at Belmont Park. Last year, Praise
The Prince (NZ) won at Churchill Downs, but was beaten a neck at
Pimlico before winning again at Belmont Park.
The next leg of the Steeplechase Triple Crown is the Grade I Joe
Aitcheson at Pimlico on Friday, May 17th. The Series concludes with
the Grade I Meadow Brook at Belmont Park June 6th. Each race offers
a purse of $100,000.
Click Here for Daily Racing Form
past performance charts for the Hard Scuffle.
Past performance charts are provided by the Daily
Racing Form.
To play the Steeplestakes.com Spring 2002 Handicapping Contest
click here.
Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
McDynamo |
151 |
Thornton |
Sanna Neilson |
Michael J. Moran |
|
2
|
Najjm |
160 |
B. Miller |
F. Bruce Miller |
Mrs. S.K. Johnson, Jr. |
|
3
|
Miles Ahead |
148 |
Brown |
Jonathan Sheppard |
Jonathan Sheppard |
|
4
|
Ethical Actions |
151 |
Kingsley |
Jack Fisher |
Arcadia Stable |
|
5
|
Understood |
148 |
Massey |
Richard Valentine |
Whitewood Farm |
|
PU
|
Sharp Face |
151 |
C. Miller |
Jack Fisher |
Mrs. F.E. Dixon, Jr. |
|
PU
|
Mr. Fater |
151 |
Murphy |
Tom Voss |
Coppertree Farm |
|
PU
|
Unalienable Right |
151 |
Foley |
Mark McEntee |
Miacomet Farm |
| Winner: |
McDynamo - Bay Gelding, April 06, 1997
Bred by Richard Fox, Nathan Fox & Richard Kaster in KY |
| Pedigree: |
Dynaformer - Rondonia , by Monteverdi (IRE)
|
| Pgm |
Horse |
Win |
Place |
Show |
Total WPS
Pool: $303,354 |
| 3 |
McDynamo |
13.20 |
4.40 |
3.20 |
|
| 5 |
Najjm |
|
3.20 |
2.60 |
|
| 8 |
Miles Ahead |
|
|
3.80 |
|
| Wager Type |
Winning Numbers |
Payoff |
Pool |
Carryover |
| $1 Pick 3 |
1-1/2/5/7/9-3 |
49.60 |
59,896 |
|
| $1 Pick 4 |
8-1-1/2/5/7/9-3 |
1,068.60 |
55,410 |
|
| $1 Daily Double |
9-3 |
12.70 |
92,366 |
|
| $2 Exacta |
3-5 |
36.40 |
257,734 |
|
| $1 Superfecta |
3-5-8-4 |
735.60 |
98,991 |
|
| $2 Trifecta |
3-5-8 |
193.00 |
250,613 |
|
| Pgm |
Comment |
| 3 |
McDynamo: pressed pace,in hand,took over,bmp
5th jump,driving,clear |
| 5 |
Najjm: never far back, in behind winner, bid,2ndbest |
| 8 |
Miles Ahead: within striking distance,flattened
out |
| 4 |
Ethical Actions: stalked pace,4w, weakened
entering stretch |
| 7 |
Understood: unhurried,moved 4-5w,reached contention,empty
in drive |
| 6 |
Sharp Face: in contention until approaching
stretch,tired, left course |
| 1 |
Mr. Fater: no factor, faded,left course in
stretch |
| 2 |
Unalienable Right: pace,landed badly 6th jump,
gave way, eased |
| Footnotes
|
|
MCDYNAMO, well in hand while
tracking front-running UNALIENABLE REPORT early, bumped with
that one approaching the fifth jump, took over, edged clear,
then was under energetic handling in the drive. NAJJM, never
far back while near the inside, moved up behind the winner
approaching the stretch, loomed a solid threat but couldn't
muster the needed response as second best. MILES AHEAD, in
contention until the stretch, was empty in the drive. ETHICAL
ACTIONS followed the leaders four or five wide, raced within
easy striking distance to the stretch and flattened out. UNDERSTOOD
moved up steadily to reach easy striking distance after seven
fences, held on well until the final turn and weakened gradually.
SHARP FACE tired on the final turn and left the course entering
the stretch. MR. FATER wasn't a factor and also left the course
entering the stretch. UNALIENABLE RIGHT gained the lead early,
bumped with the winner nearing the fifth jump, landed badly
at the sixth jump, gave way and was eased.
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back to top
Pedigree of Winner:
MCDYNAMO C, 1997 DP = 4-4-25-0-1
(34) DI = 1.52 CD = 0.29
|
MCDYNAMO
1997 |
DYNAFORMER
(USA)*
dkb/br. 1985
30-7-5-2
$671,207 |
ROBERTO
(USA)*
b. 1969 [C]
14-7-3-0
$339,902
Article |
HAIL
TO REASON (USA)*
br. 1958 [C]
18-9-2-2
$328,434 |
TURN-TO
(IRE)*
b. 1951 [BI] |
|
ROYAL
CHARGER (GB) |
| SOURCE SUCREE
(FR) |
NOTHIRDCHANCE
(USA)
b. 1948 |
BLUE
SWORDS (USA) |
| GALLA COLORS
(USA) |
BRAMALEA
(USA)**
dkb/br. 1959
38-8-7-7
$192,396 |
NASHUA
(USA)*
b. 1952 [IC]
Book |
NASRULLAH
(IRE) |
| SEGULA
(USA) |
RARELEA
(USA)
b. 1949 |
BULL
LEA (USA) |
| BLEEBOK (USA) |
ANDOVER
WAY (USA)
dkb/br. 1978
18-9-6-2
$372,471 |
HIS
MAJESTY (USA)*
b. 1968 [C]
22-5-6-3
$99,430 |
RIBOT
(GB)*
b. 1952 [CP] |
TENERANI
(ITY) |
| ROMANELLA
(ITY) |
FLOWER
BOWL (USA)**
b. 1952 |
ALIBHAI (GB) |
| FLOWER BED
(USA) |
ON
THE TRAIL (USA)*
b. 1964
Unraced |
OLYMPIA
(USA)*
b. 1946 [B] |
HELIOPOLIS
(GB) |
| MISS
DOLPHIN (USA) |
GOLDEN
TRAIL (USA)*
dkb/br. 1958 |
HASTY
ROAD (USA) |
| SUNNY
VALE (USA) |
RONDONIA
1984 |
MONTEVERDI
(IRE)
blk/br. 1977
8-4-2-0
$171,422 |
LYPHARD
(USA)
b. 1969 [C]
12-6-1-0
$202,332 |
NORTHERN
DANCER (CAN)*
b. 1961 [BC]
Book |
NEARCTIC
(CAN) |
| NATALMA
(USA) |
GOOFED
(USA)
ch. 1960 |
COURT
MARTIAL (GB) |
| BARRA (FR) |
JANINA
(GB)
ch. 1965 |
MATCH
(FR)
dkb/br. 1958 |
TANTIEME
(FR) |
| RELANCE
(FR) |
JENNIFER
(GB)
b. 1948 |
HYPERION
(GB) |
| AVENA (GB) |
FLYING
CARPET
b. 1973
4-0-0-0
$0 |
DAMASCUS
(USA)*
b. 1964 [IC]
32-21-7-3
$1,176,781 |
SWORD
DANCER (USA)*
ch. 1956 |
SUNGLOW
(USA) |
| HIGHLAND
FLING (USA) |
KERALA
(USA)*
b. 1958 |
MY BABU
(FR) |
| BLADE OF TIME
(USA) |
PIMENTO
DRAM
b. 1966
24-6-3-1
$46,370 |
CYANE
(USA)*
b. 1959 |
TURN-TO
(IRE) |
|
| YOUR GAME (USA) |
RUM
BOTTLE BAY (USA)
b. 1959 |
THINKING
CAP (USA) |
| SEA SNACK
(USA) |
Pedigrees compliments of Del
Mar Pedigree Query
Previous Winners:
| YEAR |
FIRST (Age) |
JOCKEY |
lbs. |
SECOND (Age) |
lbs. |
THIRD (Age) |
lbs. |
| 2001 |
Praise The Prince (NZ) |
G. Brown |
157 |
Tres Touche |
141 |
War Talk |
151 |
| 2000 |
Pompeyo (Chi) (6) |
G. Brown |
148 |
Sharahere (5) |
148 |
Turkish Corner (4) |
142 |
| 1999 |
Popular Gigalo (5) |
C. Miler |
150 |
Lafitte The Pirate (6) |
150 |
Moshe (6) |
148 |
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
