Post-Race Analysis:
Saratoga Springs, New York - August 28, 2003: Praise The Prince
(NZ) captured the 62nd running of the Grade I $100,000 New York
Turf Writer's Cup Handicap, passing four of his rivals after the
last fence in a thrilling stretch run. Tres Touche held gamely for
second over the late-closing longshot Indispensable. The time for
the 2 3/8ths miles run over a firm course was 4:13.64, just 1.6
seconds off the track record of 4:12.04 established by Hokan in
1998 and tied by It's A Giggle over a rock-hard course in 2001.
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Praise The Prince defeating Flasher and
Indispensable (right) at the finish of the Grade I New York
Turf Writer's Cup Handicap.
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Praise The Prince was reserved early, advanced three wide on the
final turn and ran down horses after the final fence to win by 1
1/2 lengths in a drive. His trainer, Sanna N. Hendriks, knew it
was just a matter of time before Praise the Prince put it all together
this year:
"He 's been doing everything right, although it took him
a couple of races to get here. At the same time, he didn't have
good trips in the Ferguson and Smithwick," said Hendricks after
the race. "He's a real quality horse and he has been training
well into these last three races. Luckily, Gus (Brown) was available.
He knows the horse really well and the horse gets along with him."
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Praise The Prince surges past (from right)
Tres Touche, Mulahen, Anofferucantrefuse, Indispensable and
Flasher after the last fence of the New York Turf Writer's
Cup Handicap
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Winning jockey Gus Brown was thrilled with Praise The Prince's
performance: "I've never ridden a great flat horse, but I wouldn't
trade this horse for any other horse in the world," said Brown
in the winner's circle. "This horse has so much heart. Down
the backstretch, he was off the bridle and was running hard, but
he just has so much heart. He is just amazing and he jumped well."
Augustin Stable's Praise The Prince has now earned more than half
a million dollars over fences. The Turf Writers' Cup was his first
Grade I victory against open company; his previous two Grade I victories
having come in the 2001 editions of the Hard Scuffle and the Meadow
Brook - races restricted to novices. The 8-year-old son of Prince
of Praise (NZ) (by Crossways (GB)) sports a remarkably consistent
record, having hit the board in all 19 of his career starts over
hurdles. The Turf Writer's Cup was the first victory for Praise
The Prince this year: he finished third in the Grade I Royal Chase
at Keeneland; second to Pelagos (Fr) in the Grade I Iroquois; third
to Anofferucantrefuse and Tres Touche in the Grade III Ferguson;
and second to Anofferucantrefuse in the Grade II Smithwick.
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From left: Hotspur, Tres Touche, Il Capitano,
Indispensible, Praise The Prince (obscured), Golden Marvel,
Mulahen, Najjm, Feeling So Pretty and Flasher at the seventh
fence of the New York Turf Writer's Cup Handicap.
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Contrarian Stable's Tres Touche was prominent from the start, led
after the final fence and stayed on gamely along the inside to the
end. The 6-year-old son of Poles Apart (by Danzig) has captured
a steeplechase stakes race in each of the last four seasons, including
the Grade III Marcellus Frost at Iroquois earlier this year. He
finished third beaten six lengths by Anofferucantrefuse and Praise
The Prince in the Smithwick. Tres Touche has eight lifetime steeplechase
victories to his credit and has now earned $395,031 from 26 lifetime
starts over fences. He is trained by Ricky Hendricks and was ridden
by David Bentley, who has been aboard for all 26 of Tres Touche's
career starts over hurdles.
Mrs. F. Eugene Dixon, Jr.'s Indispensable was reserved in the back
of the pack early, came wide around the final turn and still had
five horses to beat at the top of the stretch. The 9-year-old son
of Mane Minister was coming fastest of all in deep stretch, and
just got beat a neck for second place. He is trained by Jack Fisher
and was ridden by Blair Waterman.
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From left: Anofferucantrefuse, Trebizond,
Tres Touche, Il Capitano (obscured), Hotspur, Praise The Prince,
Golden Marvel and Najjm at the third fence of the New York
Turf Writer's Cup Handicap
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Mrs. S.K. Johnston's Mulahen (GB) raced near the back
of the pack early, moved up quickly around the final turn to make
the lead approaching the final fence but faded on the run-in. The
8-year-old son of Robellino (by Roberto) had won his last two starts,
one of which was an allowance race at Saratoga last month. He is
rained by Kathy Neilson and was ridden for the first time by Danielle
Hodsdon.
Flasher was outrun early, rallied four wide on the final turn and
finished well despite the fact that jockey Matt McCarron lost his
whip. Flasher, a 9-year-old son of Majestic Light (by Majestic Prince),
is winless since he defeated Praise The Prince by a neck in the
Grade I Joe Aitcheson two years ago. He is owned and trained by
Jimmy Day.
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Recent import Il Capitano (GB) (right)
has won 11 of 27 career steeplechase starts but was pulled
up while carrying highweight of 158 pounds in his American
debut. Bob Williams photo.
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Fox Ridge Farm's Anofferucantrefuse took the lead after the first
fence and led for the next seven jumps before relinquishing the
lead down the backside the last time. The 7-year-old son of Red
Ransom (by Roberto) won the Grade II A.P. Smithwick Memorial at
Saratoga and the Grade III Ferguson at Colonial Downs earlier this
summer. Anofferucantrefuse is trained by three-time defending steeplechase
trainer Tom Voss, who was red-hot at this year's Saratoga meeting,
winning five of the nine steeplechase races contested at the Spa.
He was ridden by Cyril Murphy, who has had the call for all but
one of the five winners saddled by Voss.
The highweight in the Turf Writers' was Eldon Farm Racing Stable's
Il Capitano (GB), a recent import who had made his last 12 starts
in England, reporting home first in six of those races. The 6-year-old
son of Be My Chief (by Chief's Crown) was prominent early but jumped
poorly and left the course before the final fence. He sports a career
record of 11-4-6 from 26 starts over fences. He is trained by Doug
Fout and was ridden by Robert Massey.
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Jonathan Sheppard has won the New York
Turf Writers Cup Handicap 11 times, but the Hall of Fame trainer
failed to win a steeplechase race at Saratoga this year.
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Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, who has won the New York
Turf Writers Cup Handicap 11 times, saddled seventh-place finisher
Hotspur in this year's edition of the race. Sheppard sent out three
second-place finishers in steeplechase races at Saratoga this year,
but failed to saddle a hurdle winner at the Spa for the first time
in over 20 years.
The complete order of finish for the New York Turf Writers Cup
Handicap is set forth below.
Click here for Daily Racing Form Past Performance
Charts for the New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap!
Past performance charts are provided by the Daily
Racing Form
Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Praise The Prince (NZ) |
150
|
Brown
|
Sanna N. Hendriks |
Augustin Stable |
|
2
|
Tres Touche |
148
|
Bentley |
Ricky Hendricks |
Contrarian Stables |
|
3
|
Indispensable |
142
|
Waterman |
Jack Fisher |
Mrs. F.E. Dixon, Jr. |
|
4
|
Mulahen (GB) |
144
|
Hodsdon |
Katherine Neilson |
Mrs. S.K. Johnston Jr. |
|
5
|
Flasher |
142
|
McCarron |
James Day |
James Day |
|
6
|
Anofferucantrefuse |
150
|
Murphy |
Thomas H. Voss |
Fox Ridge Farm |
|
7
|
Hotspur |
140
|
Foley |
Jonathan Sheppard |
Hudson River Farms |
|
8
|
Golden Marvel (Fr) |
142
|
Massey |
Doug Fout |
Beverly R. Steinman |
|
9
|
Feeling So Pretty |
139
|
Traurig |
Katherine Neilson |
F. Lee McKinney |
|
10
|
Trebizond (Ire) |
144
|
Geraghty |
Katherine Neilson |
Willaim C. Lickle |
|
PU
|
Il Capitano (GB) |
158
|
Walsh |
Doug Fout |
Eldon Farm Racing Stable |
|
PU
|
Najjm |
144
|
C. Miller |
F. Bruce Miller |
Mrs. S.K. Johnston Jr. |
| Winner: |
Praise the Prince (NZ) - Dark Bay or Brown
Gelding, October 03, 1995
Bred by Thoroughbred Investments Ltd. in NZ |
| Pedigree: |
Prince of Praise - Dynataine , by Centaine
(AUS) |
| Pgm |
Horse |
Win |
Place |
Show |
Total WPS
Pool: $355,569 |
| 10 |
Praise the Prince (NZ) |
7.50 |
4.20 |
3.60 |
|
| 7 |
Tres Touche |
|
7.90 |
5.50 |
|
| 8 |
Indispensable |
|
|
13.00 |
|
| Wager Type |
Winning Numbers |
Payoff |
Pool |
Carryover |
| $2 Pick 3 |
9-6-10 |
533.00 |
86,434 |
|
| $2 Daily Double |
6-10 |
167.50 |
158,953 |
|
| $2 Exacta |
10-7 |
62.00 |
331,589 |
|
| $2 Trifecta |
10-7-8 |
1,444.00 |
301,475 |
|
| Pgm |
Comment |
| 10 |
Praise the Prince (NZ): reserved early, 3
wd move final turn,ran to front over flat run |
| 7 |
Tres Touche: prominent from start, led after
final fence, gamely inside |
| 8 |
Indispensable: reserved outside, wide throughout,
coming fast late |
| 1 |
Mulahen (GB): reserved early, quick outside
move final turn, faded flat run |
| 9 |
Flasher: outrun early, rallied four wide on
the final turn, lost whip |
| 11 |
Anofferucantrefuse: took over first jump,
led for next seven, hit 9th fence, tired |
| 2 |
Hotspur: close up in hand, inside run final
turn, nothing left |
| 3 |
Golden Marvel (FR): saved ground to no avail |
| 4 |
Feeling So Pretty: jumped poorly, tired |
| 6 |
Trebizond (IRE): argued pace for nine jumps,
tired |
| 5 |
Il Capitano (GB): jumped poorly, under whip
early, left before 10th jump |
| 1A |
Najjm: tired badly, eased after 9th fence |
| Footnotes
|
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PRAISE THE PRINCE (NZ) was
reserved early, advanced three wide on the final turn, ran
to the front after the final fence and was clear under the
wire, driving. TRES TOUCHE was prominent from the start, led
after the final fence and stayed on gamely along the inside
to the end. INDISPENSABLE was reserved outside, continued
wide throughout and was coming fast in the late stages. MULAHEN
(GB) reserved in the early stages, moved to the front with
a quick move on the final turn, led to the final fence and
faded in the flat run. FLASHER was outrun early, rallied four
wide on the final turn, finished well with the rider losing
the whip. ANOFFERUCANTREFUSE took over after the first jump,
led for the seven jumps, hit the ninth fence and gave way.
HOTSPUR raced close up in hand, made a inside bid on the final
turn and had nothing left. GOLDEN MARVEL (FR) saved ground
to no avail. FEELING SO PRETTY jumped poorly and tired. TREBIZOND
(IRE) argued the pace for nine jumps and tired. IL CAPITANO
(GB) jumped poorly, was put under the whip early, but left
before the final jump. NAJJM tired badly and was eased after
ninth fence.
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back to top
Pedigree of Winner:
PRAISE THE PRINCE (NZ)
dkb/br. G, 1995 DP = 4-1-4-1-0 (10) DI = 2.33 CD
= 0.80; GSV = 39.34
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Pedigrees compliments of Del
Mar Pedigree Query
Previous Winners:
| YEAR |
FIRST (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 |
| 2001 |
It's A Giggle |
B. Miller |
142 |
Canta Ke Brave |
152 |
Praise The Prince (NZ) |
160 |
| 2002 |
Zabenz (NZ) |
Thornton |
146 |
Double Leaf (GB) |
140 |
Flat Top |
150 |
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
