Post-Race Analysis:
Saratoga Springs, New York - August 8, 2002: It's A Giggle rolled
to an easy 1 1/2 length victory in the $75,000 Grade II A.P. Smithwick
Memorial Steeplechase at historic Saratoga Race Course. Tres Touche
finished second in the 23rd edition of this summer classic, 1 3/4
lengths in front of Indispensable. The time for the 2 1/16th miles
over nine fences was 3:37.56, one second off the track record set
by Hudson Bay while carrying 147 pounds in 1996.
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It's A Giggle (left) leads Invest West,
Indispensable (partially obscured) and P.C. Plod over the
second fence in the Grade II Smithwick.
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Tres Touche broke on top and maintained that position for the first
four fences before Anofferucantrefuse took command around the far
turn the first time around. While Tres Touche and Anofferucantrefuse
traded places for the first 1 1/2 miles of the race, It's A Giggle
was content to bide his time, stalking them in third position. As
the field straightened away down the backside the last time jockey
Gus Brown turned It's A Giggle loose, and the 4-5 favorite began
to close in on Anofferucantrefuse. Those two jumped the last fence
on the backstretch abreast of each other, but It's A Giggle took
off upon landing, quickly opening up a four length lead. From there
he just seemed to glide home the easiest of winners, jumping the
last fence in front by two and coasting to the wire under a hand
ride.
"He's such a phenomenal jumper," said Brown after the
race. "I never intended to get the lead that soon, but he was
fencing so well - he makes about three to four lengths up on the
others at each fence. He is an amazing, free running horse. He was
traveling off the bridle much of the race - traveling comfortably.
Then when he made the lead so easy around the final turn I gave
him a little breather. He won this race well within himself and
he definitely had something left at the end. He doesn't have to
be in front all the way to win, as he showed that again today."
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Left to right: It's A Giggle, Anofferucantrefuse,
Tres Touche and Invest West at the sixth fence.
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Brown was asked to compare It's A Giggle to last year's steeplechase
champion Pompeyo (Chi) and Praise The Prince (NZ), both of whom
he rode on a regular basis. "It's A Giggle has a flamboyant,
free-rolling style," said Brown. "Pompeyo (Chi) and Praise
The Prince are more calculated and quick jumpers. And I think it
really helps that It's A Giggle is so much bigger than the other
horses; it suits his free-rolling style."
Brown was riding It's A Giggle for the first time as his regular
rider, Blythe Miller, had suffered a concussion from a fall at Saratoga
last week. Miller, who is undefeated on It's A Giggle in five starts
over the past two years, had called Brown to offer some advice on
how to ride It's A Giggle. "Blythe has always been a good friend,
except when we are on the race course," Brown said. "She
told me to let him run his own race - and if he wanted to run free,
let him run free. The biggest thing she said was not to get into
a wrestling match with him, because then he won't try."
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Left to right: Tres Touche, Invest West,
Indispensable and P.C. Plod sprint away from the 6th fence.
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Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard has now won the Smithwick
nine times. "I thought Gus rode the horse the way a 4-5 shot
should be ridden," said Sheppard. "He had him nicely placed
stalking the two leaders, and then took the lead turning for home.
The horse jumped brilliantly. The only fence he skipped a bit was
the last one. He's a pretty extravagant jumper," Sheppard added.
"He's a tall, racy horse. He can take off further behind the fences,
and he soars over them. We'll probably bring him back for the New
York Turf Writer's Cup in three weeks; that's been our plan all
along."
William L. Pape's It's A Giggle is a horse for the course. The
8-year-old son of all-time leading U.S. jump sire Northern Baby
(by Northern Dancer) won three races at Saratoga last summer, including
the Grade I New York Turf Writers' Cup. He is undefeated in three
starts over hurdles this year: prior to the Smithwick he won the
$175,000 Grade I Royal Chase at Keeneland and the $25,000 Sandhills
Cup, both run in April. It's A Giggle currently leads all steeplechase
horses in earnings this year with a bankroll of $172,620.
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It's A Giggle leads (left to right) Invest
West, Tres Touche, Indispensable and Anofferucantrefuse over
the last fence in the Smithwick.
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Contrarian Stables Tres Touche raced on or near the lead for the
first 1 3/4 miles of the Smithwick and finished gamely to be beaten
only 1 3/4 lengths by It's A Giggle. The 5-year-old son of Poles
Apart (by Danzig) won the $40,000 Little Everglades Stakes in March
before racking up a pair of second-place finishes in the Grade II
Atlanta Cup and the Grade III Ferguson. Tres Touche put together
a solid record last year as a novice, finishing second to Praise
The Prince in the Grade I Hard Scuffle before winning an allowance
race at Saratoga and the Foxbrook Novice Stakes at Far Hills. Tres
Touche is trained by former steeplechase jockey Ricky Hendricks
and was ridden by David Bentley, who has been aboard Tres Touche
for all 14 of his career starts over hurdles.
Mrs. F. Eugene Dixon, Jr.'s Indispensable was reserved near the
back of the pack early before rallying through the stretch to finish
a good third. The 8-year-old son of Mane Minister (by Deputy Minister)
is winless since he captured this Grade III Ferguson last year.
Indispensable was first under the wire in the $30,000 Miles Valentine
Stakes at Fair Hill on Memorial Day, but was disqualified for interference
at the last fence and was placed second to P.C. Plod. He is trained
by Jack Fisher and was ridden by former champion steeplechase rider
Arch Kingsley, Jr.
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Gus Brown, two-time defending steeplechase
jockey, returns to the winner's circle with It's A Giggle.
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Fox Ridge Farm's Anofferucantrefuse made the pace until the eighth
fence and was on even terms with Tres Touche over the last fence
but tired through the stretch to finish fourth. Anofferucantrefuse
had ran extremely well in the Steeplechase Triple Crown earlier
this year, winning the Grade I Aitcheson at Pimlico and finishing
second to Sharp Face in the Grade I Meadow Brook at Belmont Park.
Those races were restricted to horses that had not broken their
maiden over fences prior to 2001. The Smithwick was his first stakes
start against open company, and was the first time he failed to
finish first or second in six career steeplechase starts. The 5-year-old
son of Red Ransom 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.
Invest West raced at the back of the pack until the eighth fence
when he ranged up to fourth position, was carried three-wide around
the final turn and flattened out to finish fifth a neck behind Anofferucantrefuse.
He entered the Smithwick off a victory in the Grade III Ferguson
at Colonial Downs on July 14th where he defeated Tres Touche, P.C.
Plod and Indispensable. Invest West is a home-bred product of George
Strawbridge, Jr.'s Augustin Stables. The 7-year-old son of Private
Account is out of the regally-bred Seattle Way (by Seattle Slew),
a daughter of Champion turf mare Waya (Fr).
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Winning owner William L. Pape (second
from right) and Jonathan Sheppard (right) accept the Smithwick
trophy from Paddy Smithwick's grandchildren (left), daughter
(fourth fom right) and Hall of Fame trainer Mikie Smithwick
(Paddy's brother, third from right).
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Kinross Farm's P.C. Plod failed in his attempt to become the first
horse this year to capture three steeplechase stakes races. The
5-year-old son of Pleasant Tap (by Pleasant Colony) has started
six times this year, winning two $30,000 ungraded stakes (the Imperial
Cup and the Miles Valentine), finishing second in two other stakes
races (the Stoneybrook Stakes and the Grade III Temple Gwathmey).
P.C. Plod is trained by Neil Morris and was ridden by Matt McCarron,
nephew of recently retired Hall-of Fame jockey Chris McCarron.
As a result of the NSA's new fence configuration (only two fences
on the backstretch) the Smithwick was contested over nine fences
this year, two less than previous years.
Steeplechasing has a strong connection to Saratoga, as hurdle races
have been contested there since the track first opened its doors
in 1864. There are numerous trainers at Saratoga who used to ride
there over fences including Billy Turner (trainer of Seattle Slew),
recently retired Scotty Schulhofer, Leo O'Brien, his son Keith O'Brien,
Barclay Tagg, Kenny Nesky, Ricky Hendricks, Chip Miller and Tom
Skiffington. Other Saratoga trainers with steeplechase back rounds
include Graham Motion and Eric Jovonen, both of whom are former
assistants to Jonathan Sheppard, and Willard C. Freeman, former
assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Burley Cocks.
Smithwick Biography: A. P. (Paddy) Smithwick rode 398 steeplechase
winners during his career, second only to Joe Aitcheson's total
of 440. Mr. Smithwick was the nations leading steeplechase jockey
in 1956, 1957, 1958, and again in 1962. He won the Temple Gwathmey,
at the time the country's most prestigious steeplechase race, run
in the late fall at Belmont Park, four times. He won the Meadow
Brook Handicap and the Georgetown Handicap six times each, the International
Handicap and the Beverwyck Handicap five times each, and the New
York Turf Writers and the Grand National three times each. Mr. Smithwick
said the greatest horse he ever rode was Mrs. Ogden Phipps three-time
champion Neji, who retired in 1960 as the leading steeplechase earner
of all time. In 1958 Mr. Smithwick was aboard Neji when he won the
Grand National carrying 173 pounds. Forced to retire from riding
in 1966 after a spill at Monmouth Park that left him partially paralyzed
in the left arm, Mr. Smithwick went on to train two stakes winners
on the flat including Bel Sheba, the dam of Kentucky Derby winner
Alysheba and a full sister to Wac, the dam of Campanile's sire,
Lear Fan. Mr. Smithwick died of cancer at the age of 46 in 1973,
shortly after he was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame.
The complete order of finish for the Smithwick is set forth below.
Click here for Daily Racing Form past
performance charts for the Smithwick.
Past performance charts are provided by the Daily
Racing Form
Click here
to play the Steeplestakes.com Summer 2002 Handicapping Contest.
Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
It's A Giggle |
158 |
Brown |
Jonathan Sheppard |
William L. Pape |
|
2
|
Tres Touche |
154 |
Bentley |
Ricky Hendricks |
Contrarian Stables |
|
3
|
Indispensable |
150 |
Kingsley |
Jack Fisher |
Mrs. F. E. Dixon, Jr. |
|
4
|
Anofferucantrefuse |
154 |
Horgan |
Thomas H. Voss |
Fox Ridge Farm |
|
5
|
Invest West |
150 |
Massey |
Jonathan Sheppard |
Augustin Stables |
|
6
|
P.C. Plod |
154 |
McCarron |
Neil Morris |
Kinross Farm |
| Winner: |
It's a Giggle - Bay Gelding, May 26, 1994
Bred by William L. Pape & Jonathan E. Sheppard in PA |
| Pedigree: |
Northern Baby - Martie's Delighted , by Mo
Bay |
| Pgm |
Horse |
Win |
Place |
Show |
Total WPS
Pool: $181,708 |
| 4 |
It's a Giggle |
3.70 |
2.80 |
2.50 |
|
| 1 |
Tres Touche |
|
4.50 |
3.50 |
|
| 3 |
Indispensable |
|
|
4.90 |
|
| Wager Type |
Winning Numbers |
Payoff |
Pool |
Carryover |
| $2 Exacta |
4-1 |
23.60 |
174,505 |
|
| $2 Trifecta |
4-1-3 |
189.50 |
114,219 |
|
| Pgm |
Comment |
| 4 |
It's a Giggle: prominent throughout, took
over after eighth, drew clear, driving |
| 1 |
Tres Touche: close up in hand, game finish
outside |
| 3 |
Indispensable: outrun early, good finish |
| 5 |
Anofferucantrefuse: made pace, tired after
eighth fence |
| 6 |
Invest West: 3 wide trip, no rally |
| 2 |
P. C. Plod: inside trip, no rally |
| Footnotes
|
|
IT'S A GIGGLE was prominent
from the outset, took over after the eighth jump, drew clear
and remained clear under a drive. TRES TOUCHE raced close
up while well in hand and finished gamely outside. INDISPENSABLE
was reserved early and finished well. ANOFFERUCANTREFUSE made
the pace and tired after the eighth fence. INVEST WEST raced
three wide and lacked a rally. P. C. PLOD raced along the
inside and had no rally.
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back to top
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 |
Previous Winners:
| YEAR |
FIRST (Age) |
JOCKEY |
lbs. |
SECOND (Age) |
lbs. |
THIRD (Age) |
lbs. |
| 1980 |
Cookie (5) |
Martin |
141 |
Coconut Creek (6) |
149 |
Pala Mountain (6) |
142 |
| 1981 |
Round the Bay (4) |
Cushman |
140 |
Hill Talk (4) |
136 |
Acromion (4) |
135 |
| 1983 |
Running Comment (9) |
McWade |
148 |
Census (5) |
151 |
Steve Canyon (3) |
147 |
| 1984 |
Double Reefed (8) |
Teter |
152 |
Twas Ever Thus (5) |
155 |
Steve Canyon (4) |
144 |
| 1985 |
Gateshead (6) |
Fishback |
155 |
Le Sauteur (6) |
155 |
Statesmanship (5) |
143 |
| 1986 |
Census (8) |
Teter |
156 |
Le Sauteur (7) |
156 |
Polar Parrallel (5) |
153 |
| 1987 |
Micky Free (4) |
Morris |
141 |
Gateshead (8) |
143 |
Chammsky (8) |
143 |
| 1988 |
Summer Colony (5) |
Smart |
146 |
Jive With Five (4) |
144 |
Rio Claro (5) |
150 |
| 1989 |
Uptown Swell (7) |
Lawrence |
149 |
Rio Claro (6) |
157 |
Double Bill (6) |
142 |
| 1990 |
Summer Colony (7) |
Smart |
158 |
French Hill (5) |
154 |
Victorian Hill (5) |
154 |
| 1991 |
Yaw (9) |
Smart |
143 |
Mihmaz (6) |
144 |
Three Bells For Me (4) |
136 |
| 1992 |
Master McGrath (5) |
Guessford |
139 |
Peer Prince (7) |
140 |
Double Bill (9) |
147 |
| 1993 |
Warm Spell (5) |
Lawrence |
158 |
Castleworth (7) |
140 |
Rolling Cart (8) |
145 |
| 1994 |
Warm Spell (6) |
Lawrence |
164 |
Mistico (8) |
168 |
Cheering News (7) |
146 |
| 1995 |
Lonesome Glory (7) |
B.Miller |
164 |
Irish Aproach (6) |
146 |
Mistico (9) |
160 |
| 1996 |
Cheering News (9) |
C.Miller |
158 |
Stop and Listen (6) |
144 |
Petroski (6) |
148 |
| 1997 |
Brigade of Guards (5) |
Kiser |
144 |
Water Skipper (7) |
140 |
Mario (6) |
156 |
| 1998 |
Romantic (6) |
Kingsley |
140 |
Brigade of Guards (6) |
156 |
Bisbalense (9) |
144 |
| 1999 |
Campanile (5) |
B. Miller |
142 |
Ninepins (10) |
144 |
Approaching Squall (5) |
150 |
| 2000 |
Campanile (6) |
B. Miller |
158 |
Golden Rule (GB) (5) |
154 |
Aggro Craig (8) |
146 |
| 2001 |
Praise The Prince (NZ) (6) |
G. Brown |
158 |
Aggro Crag (9) |
142 |
Spring Salute |
144 |
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
