Post-Race Analysis:
June 6, 2002 - Elmont, New York: Sharp Face shocked the 3,724 in
attendance at Belmont Park, defeating Anofferucantrefuse by a length
to capture the $100,000 Grade I Meadow Brook, the third leg of the
Steeplechase Triple Crown. It was another four lengths back to Najjm
who finished third. The winning time for the 2 1/2 mile test was
4:37.32, shattering the track record of 4:40 established by Flatterer
in 1984 while carrying 167 pounds. Sharp Face carried 151 pounds
in the Meadow Brook.
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Sharp Face and jockey Chip Miller defeated
Anofferucantrefuse (Roger Horgan up) by a length in the $100,000
Grade I Meadow Brook at Belmont Park. Van Cushny photo.
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Dismissed at 50-1, the longest shot on the board, Sharp Face paid
$103 to win and keyed a $2,021 trifecta and a $420.50 exacta.
The race got off to an auspicious start when Storm Touch stumbled
after the first of 12 fences unseating his rider, Gus Brown. That
fall foreshadowed two more at the same fence the next time around,
as McDynamo fell at the seventh fence and Equistar unseated his
rider (Cyril Murphy) after colliding with the fallen McDynamo. None
of the fallen horses or riders were injured. Yonder and Dixie's
Crown pulled up near the end of the race, and as a result only half
of the 10 starters finished this Grade I event.
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McDynamo fell at the seventh fence of
the Grade I Meadow Brook. The four other horses shown in this
photo (right to left: winner Sharp Face, Geaux Beau, Cold
Cat & Yonder) all avoided McDynamo but Equistar (not in
picture yet) was not as fortunate. Van Cushny photo.
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As expected, post-time favorite Anofferucantrefuse grabbed the
early lead and opened up by 7 lengths down the backside the first
time. The second and third choices in the race, McDynamo and Najjm,
raced in second and third place for the first circuit of Belmont's
inner turf course until McDynamo fell at the seventh fence. Equistar
then collided with the fallen McDynamo, unseating his jockey Cyril
Murphy.
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Left to right: Geaux Beau, Najjm, Anofferucantrefuse
and McDynamo at the first fence in the Grade I Meadow Brook.
Van Cushny photo.
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With McDynamo out of the race Najjm moved into second place as
the field moved down the backside the last time, moving to within
a half-length of Anofferucantrefuse. Sharp Face followed those two
down the backside, moved to within a half-length of those leaders
around the last turn, and was gunned into second place at the top
of the stretch. Anofferucantrefuse was still in front as they landed
over the last fence, but Sharp Face collared him in the final 100
yards thanks to a rail-skimming ride from veteran jockey Chip Miller.
"Sharp Face was getting tired around the far turn, but I picked
his head up and asked him for more as we straightened away at the
top of the stretch," said winning jockey Chip Miller. "When
he stood way-off and flew the second-to-last fence I knew I had
a good chance to catch the leader, and we just wore him down after
he last fence. The pace was fast but not too fast. Belmont is really
tough on a front-runner, and I was surprised that Anofferucantrefuse
stayed on to finish second after doing all the donkey work up-front."
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Sharp Face and jockey Chip Miller return
to the winners circle after capturing the Grade I Meadow Brook.
Van Cushny photo.
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The mystery of the day was why Sharp Face ran so well after failing
to finish in the first leg of the Steeplechase Triple Crown and
getting beaten by 18 3/4 lengths in the second leg? Winning trainer
Jack Fisher said the key to unraveling the mystery was the firm
going at Belmont Park. Sharp Face had run 3 times this year before
the Meadow Brook, and had caught soft ground an all three occasions.
"The ground at Pimlico was labeled firm, but it was really
soft that day," said Fisher. "The ground was also soft
at Churchill Downs and Atlanta, and Sharp Face does not like soft
ground. If it had rained as forecasted, I would have scratched him."
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Winning trainer Jack Fisher. Van
Cushny photo.
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Mrs. F. Eugene Dixon's Sharp face was the only horse besides McDynamo
to contest all three legs of the Steeplechase Triple Crown. The
6-year-old son of Trempolino (by Sharpen Up (GB)) won his first
two starts over hurdles last fall, but had failed to hit the board
in three stakes races this year prior to the Meadow Brook. He had
finished fifth beaten 15 1/2 lengths by Najjm in a novice stakes
race at Atlanta, was pulled-up in the Hard Scuffle and was not a
factor finishing fifth in the Aitcheson.
Anofferucantrefuse and McDynamo had captured the first two legs
of the Steeplechase Triple Crown, and both entered the Meadow Brook
sporting career records of 3-for-4 in hurdle races.
Owned and bred by Peter G. Schiff's Fox Ridge Farm, Anofferucantrefuse
has never been worse than second in five career starts over hurdles.
The 5-year-old son of Red Ransom had an uninspiring career on the
flat, winning only once from nine starts before being converted
to a hurdler last summer. Anofferucantrefuse took immediately to
his new calling, winning at first asking in Saratoga and then going
on to capture an allowance hurdle race at the Spa by more than 20
lengths.. He is trained by two-time leading steeplechase trainer
Tom Voss, who leads the steeplechase trainer standings again this
year, and was ridden by Roger Horgan.
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Storm Touch (center) stumbled after the
first fence, unseating rider Gus Brown. Also shown (left to
right) are winner Sharp Face, Yonder (#9), Cold Cat (partialy
obscured), Equistar and Dixie's Crown. Van Cushny photo.
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Mrs. S.K. Johnston, Jr.'s Najjm carried high-weight of 160 in the
Meadow Brook and raced forwardly before checking home third beaten
a total of five lengths. The 5-year-old son of Dynaformer (by Roberto)
had won three straight hurdle races in a in England last year before
being purchased by Johnston and returned to the United States. However,
things did not go as smoothly for Najjm stateside as he finished
off the board in his only two American starts last fall. Najjm got
back on the winning track this year when he captured a $50,000 novice
hurdle stakes at Atlanta on April 13th. He was dispatched as the
favorite in the Grade I Hard Scuffle and finished second beaten
2 1/2 lengths by McDynamo. Najjm is trained by F. Bruce Miller and
was ridden by Miller's daughter Blythe, who has posted an incredible
53% winning percentage going into the Meadow Brook, winning with
8 of 15 mounts. The veteran rider has over 200 career steeplechase
victories, tops among active jump jockeys.
Contrarian Stables Geaux Beau raced evenly throughout and was only
beaten 1 ½ lengths for third at 50-1. Last year's 3-year-old champion
is a son of perennial leading steeplechase sire Northern Baby (by
Northern Dancer). He is for trained Ricky Hendriks and was ridden
by David Bentley.
The complete order of finish for the Grade I Meadow Brook is set
forth below.
Click here for Daily Racing Form past performance
charts for the Meadow Brook.
Past performance charts are provided by the Daily
Racing Form.
To play the Steeplestakes.com Spring 2002 Handicapping Contest
click here.
The Meadow Brook is named after the Meadow Brook Hounds, who used
to hunt foxes near Belmont Park on the north shore of Nassau County,
Long Island. Founded in 1881, the hunt was generally considered
one of the best in the United States during the first half of the
20th century. Mr. F. Ambrose Clark, for many years a leading steeplechase
owner, was the master of the Meadow Brook Hounds in the 1920's,
and the grandfather of current leading steeplechase trainer Tom
Voss used to hunt with Meadow Brook when he lived on Long Island.
The Meadow Brook Hounds annually held a well-attended steeplechase
race meeting on Mr. Clark's property starting in 1919, and the trophy
that will be presented to this year's winning owner is the same
trophy that was presented to the winning owners last century. The
Meadow Brook Hounds folded in 1970 as a result of the development
of Nassau County, which borders New York City and is only 12 miles
from Manhattan. The Hunt's clubhouse still stands today as the home
of the Meadow Brook Golf Club in Jericho, New York.
Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Sharp Face |
151 |
C. Miller |
Jack Fisher |
Mrs. F.E. Dixon, Jr. |
|
2
|
Anofferucantrefuse |
154 |
Horgan |
Thomas H. Voss |
Fox Ridge Farm |
|
3
|
Najjm |
160 |
B. Miller |
F. Bruce Miller |
Mrs. S.K. Johnston, Jr. |
|
4
|
Geaux Beau |
138 |
Bentley |
Ricky Hendriks |
Contrarian Stables |
|
5
|
Cold Cat |
148 |
Walsh |
Janet Elliot |
Cherry Knoll Farm |
|
PU
|
Dixie's Crown |
148 |
Massey |
Janet Elliot |
Willmott Stables |
|
PU
|
Yonder |
148 |
Petty |
Jonathan Sheppard |
Augustin Stables |
|
LR
|
Equistar |
151 |
Murphy |
Thomas H. Voss |
The Fields Stable |
|
Fell
|
McDynamo |
154 |
Thornton |
Sanna Neilson |
Michael J. Moran |
|
LR
|
Storm Touch |
148 |
Brown |
Jonathan Sheppard |
Warren Dempsey |
| Winner: |
Sharp Face - Dark Bay or Brown Horse, February
12, 1996
Bred by Fares Farm Inc. in KY |
| Pedigree: |
Trempolino - Spectacular Face , by Spectacular
Bid |
| Pgm |
Horse |
Win |
Place |
Show |
Total WPS
Pool: $215,877 |
| 2 |
Sharp Face |
103.00 |
33.60 |
14.60 |
|
| 8 |
Anofferucantrefuse |
|
5.80 |
3.70 |
|
| 4 |
Najjm |
|
|
3.30 |
|
| Wager Type |
Winning Numbers |
Payoff |
Pool |
Carryover |
| $2 Pick 3 |
2-6-2 |
502.00 |
82,796 |
|
| $2 Pick 4 |
5-2-6-2 |
5,797.00 |
139,140 |
|
| $2 Daily Double |
6-2 |
309.00 |
121,450 |
|
| $2 Exacta |
2-8 |
420.50 |
207,749 |
|
| $2 Trifecta |
2-8-4 |
2,021.00 |
214,317 |
|
| Pgm |
Comment |
| 2 |
Sharp Face: held up early, inside run into
last, dug in gamely, driving |
| 8 |
Anofferucantrefuse: made pace, checked to
avoid loose horse 7 fence, gamely |
| 4 |
Najjm: with pace in hand, tired after final
fence |
| 10 |
Geaux Beau: had no mishap, had no rally |
| 1 |
Cold Cat: tired, eased after last |
| 5 |
Dixie's Crown: left course before 11 |
| 9 |
Yonder: pulled up after 10 |
| 3 |
Equistar: collided with fallen rival after
7, lost rider |
| 6 |
McDynamo: fell over 7 |
| 7 |
Storm Touch: stumbled over first fence, lost
rider |
| Footnotes
|
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SHARP FACE was held up in the
early stages, put in a run along the inside around the final
turn, continued to advance up to the final fence then rallied
to the front in the run to the wire, driving. ANOFFERUCANTREFUSE
made the pace, was checked to avoid a loose horse ducking
over in front of home approaching the seventh fence, continued
to make the pace, led till the last and dug in gamely but
could not contain the winner late. NAJJM raced with the pace
while in hand and tired after the final fence. GEAUX BEAU
had no mishap and had no rally. COLD CAT tired and was eased
after the last fence but did cross the line. DIXIE'S CROWN
left the course before the eleventh fence. YONDER was pulled
up after the tenth fence. EQUISTAR collided with a fallen
rival after the seventh fence, stumbled and unseated his rider.
MCDYNAMO fell over the seventh fence. STORM TOUCH stumbled
over the first fence and unseated his rider. Following a general
stewards' inquiry into these proceedings the result was made
official.
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back to top
Pedigree of Winner:
SHARP FACE (USA) dkb/br. C, 1996
DP = 8-4-12-0-0 (24) DI = 3.00 CD = 0.83
|
SHARP
FACE (USA)
dkb/br. 1996 |
TREMPOLINO
(USA)*
ch. 1984
11-4-3-3
$1,388,517 |
SHARPEN
UP (GB)*
ch. 1969 [BC]
8-5-2-0
$48,168 |
ATAN
(USA)
ch. 1961
1-1-0-0
$2,600 |
NATIVE
DANCER (USA)*
gr. 1950 [IC]
Book |
POLYNESIAN
(USA) |
| GEISHA (USA) |
MIXED
MARRIAGE (GB)*
b. 1952 |
TUDOR
MINSTREL (GB) |
| PERSIAN
MAID (GB) |
ROCCHETTA
(GB)
ch. 1961
$1,296 |
ROCKEFELLA
(GB)
br. 1941 |
HYPERION
(GB) |
| ROCKFEL
(GB) |
CHAMBIGES
(FR)
b. 1949 |
MAJANO (FR) |
| CHANTERELLE
(FR) |
TREPHINE
b. 1977 |
VICEREGAL
(CAN)*
ch. 1966
9-8-0-1
$118,399 |
NORTHERN
DANCER (CAN)*
b. 1961 [BC]
Book |
NEARCTIC
(CAN) |
| NATALMA
(USA) |
VICTORIA
REGINA (USA)
ch. 1958 |
MENETRIER
(FR) |
| VICTORIANA
(USA) |
QUIRIQUINA
b. 1966 |
MOLVEDO
(ITY)*
b. 1958 |
RIBOT
(GB) |
| MAGGIOLINA
(ITY) |
LA
CHAUSSEE
ch. 1961 |
TYRONE
(FR) |
| FLYING COLOURS
(FR) |
SPECTACULAR
FACE
gr/r. 1986
Fr. 205,800, U.S. $79,715 |
SPECTACULAR
BID (USA)*
gr. 1976
30-26-2-1
$2,781,608
Book |
BOLD
BIDDER (USA)*
b. 1962 [IC]
33-13-2-5
$478,021 |
BOLD
RULER (USA)*
dkb/br. 1954 [BI] |
NASRULLAH
(IRE) |
| MISS
DISCO (USA) |
HIGH
BID (USA)
b. 1956 |
TO MARKET
(USA) |
|
| STEPPING
STONE (USA) |
SPECTACULAR
(USA)
gr. 1970
10-4-1-0
$16,633 |
PROMISED
LAND (USA)
gr. 1954 [C] |
PALESTINIAN
(USA) |
| MAHMOUDESS
(USA) |
STOP
ON RED (USA)
ch. 1959 |
TO MARKET
(USA) |
|
| DANGER
AHEAD (USA) |
LADY
FACE
1978
$163,548 |
PROUD
CLARION (USA)
b. 1964
25-6-4-2
$218,730 |
HAIL
TO REASON (USA)*
br. 1958 [C] |
TURN-TO
(IRE) |
| NOTHIRDCHANCE
(USA) |
BREATH
O'MORN (USA)
ch. 1952 |
DJEDDAH
(FR) |
| DARBY
DUNEDIN (GB) |
ROLLABOUT
1964
1-1-0-0 |
MY
BABU (FR)*
b. 1945 [B] |
DJEBEL
(FR) |
| PERFUME (GB) |
GAY
HOSTESS (USA)*
ch. 1957 |
ROYAL
CHARGER (GB) |
| YOUR
HOSTESS (USA) |
Previous Winners:
| YEAR |
FIRST (Age) |
JOCKEY |
lbs. |
SECOND (Age) |
lbs. |
THIRD (Age) |
lbs. |
| 2001 |
Praise The Prince (NZ) (6) |
Brown |
160 |
Pelagos (Fr) (6) |
151 |
War Talk (6) |
151 |
| 2000 |
Yellowroad (5) |
Kiser |
152 |
Indispensable (6) |
150 |
Pompeyo (Chi) (6) |
152 |
| 1999 |
Popular Gigalo (5) |
C. Miller |
152 |
Spring Salute (5) |
150 |
Aproaching Squall (5) |
154 |
| 1971 |
Wustenchef (6) |
M. O'Brien |
154 |
Shadow Brook (7) |
154 |
Madagascar (5) |
140 |
| 1970 |
National Anthem (6) |
L. O'Brien |
143 |
Attribution (5) |
143 |
Gentle Boy (8) |
136 |
| 1969 |
L'Escargot (6) |
Carberry |
148 |
Rural Riot (7) |
139 |
Wanderlure (8) |
147 |
| 1968 |
Sun Game (8) |
Fishback |
141 |
Irish Hammer (6) |
146 |
Duke Cannon (4) |
138 |
| 1967 |
Mako (7) |
L. O'Brien |
160 |
Golpista (9) |
144 |
Tuscalee (7) |
138 |
| 1966 |
Mako (6) |
Walsh |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1965 |
Golpista (9) |
Small |
|
|
|
|
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Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
