Post-Race Analysis:
Far Hills, New Jersey - October 18, 2003: McDynamo galloped to
an easy victory in the 12th edition of the $175,000 Grade I Breeders'
Cup Steeplechase, crushing his competition by more than 15 lengths.
Pelagos (Fr) finished second, a half-length in front of Mulahen
(GB). The time for the 2 5/8-mile test run over a yielding turf
course that included 14 fences was 5:24.3, well off the track record
of 4:54.1 established by All Gong (GB) in 2000.
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McDynamo and jockey Craig Thornton return
to the winner's circle after capturing the Grade I Breeders'
Cup Steeplechase.
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Ridden by Craig Thornton, the winner took over the lead after about
a mile and simply galloped away from his competition. The 6-year-old
son of Dynaformer jumped flawlessly, maintained an easy lead down
the long backstretch and swept around the final turn to win by 15
1/4 lengths for trainer Sanna Hendriks. Pelagos rallied late for
second, a half-length ahead of Mulahen.
In a race with no real speed horse, McDynamo inherited the early
advantage after reluctantly tracking Indispensable for the first
five fences. Thornton gave the winner some rein at the sixth, and
the rest was a cruise.
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McDynamo leads Indispensable and Mr.
Perkolater at the 9th fence.
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"He raced pretty keenly, keener than I would have liked," said
Thornton. "It was a paceless race and far from the ideal set-up
for me, but his class came through. In the end it wasn't difficult.
When you've got a horse like that under you all you've got to do
is not make a mistake."
The win, worth $96,250, pushed McDynamo's 2003 earnings to a National
Steeplechase Association-best $192,025. The 6-year-old romped to
a 7 1/2-length score in the Grade I Royal Chase at Keeneland in
April, his only start over fences this year. As such, McDynamo is
the only horse to win two unrestricted Grade I steeplechase races
this year The November 16th Colonial Cup is the next and last Grade
I event on the NSA schedule this year.
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Indispensable leads McDynamo, Mullahen
and Mr. Perkolater at the 4th fence.
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Owner Michael Moran spent $82,000 to purchase McDynamo as a yearling
at Keeneland in 1998, and raced the powerful bay gelding on the
flat (two wins in nine starts) before pursuing a steeplechase career
in 2001. Unbeaten in three starts over the Far Hills course, McDynamo
improved to 7-for-9 lifetime over jumps and pushed his career earnings
to $451,319.
"How do you know how good they will be -- I just liked the type,"
said Moran. "He's by Dynaformer and they mature more as they get
older. He has a lot of athletic talent, and I hoped he would be
this good. He's like a growing athlete and has gotten stronger and
stronger. I think horses like that you can race sparingly and they
will last a long time."
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McDynamo and Craig Thornton approaching
the finish of the Breeders' Cup Steeplechase. Alix Michel
photo
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Michael Hoffman's Pelagos (Fr) battled Mulahen (GB) through the
length of the stretch for second place and ultimately prevailed
by a stubborn half-length. The 8-year-old son of Exit To Nowhere
(by Irish River (Fr)) was the only other horse entered in the Breeders'
Cup Steeplechase with an unrestricted Grade I win this year. The
gray French-bred scored a Grade I victory in the Iroquois in May
at the marathon 3-mile distance, and improved upon his fourth-place
finish in last year's edition of the Breeders' Cup. Pelagos is trained
by Bruce Miller and was ridden by his son, veteran jockey Chip Miller.
Mrs. S.K. Johnston's Mulahen saved ground stalking the pace, moved
up around the final turn to gain the place position but couldn'thold
off Pelagos in deep stretch. One of three horses in the Breeders'
Cup Steeplechase trained by Kathy Neilson, Mulahen won a Saratoga
allowance and came to the race off two decent stakes efforts, including
a third-place finish behind Indispensable in the Legacy Chase at
Shawan Downs. David Bentley, champion jockey of 2002 and the current
leading steeplechase jockey, had the call.
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Mulahen leads Pelagos over the last fence.
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Mrs. F. Eugene Dixon's Indispensable set the pace to the sixth
fence, pressed the pace to the thirteen fence then couldn't match
strides. The son of Mane Minister (by Deputy Minister) came to the
Breeders' Cup Steeplechase off back-to-back quality starts including
a win in the T. Rowe Price Legacy Chase three weeks ago for this
year's leading steeplechase trainer, Jack Fisher. The 9-year-old
son has never won a Grade I stakes, but was a fast-closing third
in the New York Turf Writers Cup at Saratoga earlier this year.
Irish jockey Paddy Young (four wins this fall) had the mount for
trainer Jack Fisher.
Mrs. S.K. Johnston's Mr. Perkolater prompted the pace wide to the
thirteen fence then gave way. The 5-year-old son of all-time leading
steeplechase sire Northern Baby (by Northern Dancer) finished behind
McDynamo in two races last year and more recently was a well-beaten
eighth in the Legacy Cup. Robert Massey had the ride for Kathy Neilson.
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McDynamo and jockey Craig Thornton with
owner Michael Moran (behind groom) and trainer Sanna Neilson
(right).
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William C. Lickle's Trebizond (Ire) won two Grade I novice stakes
this spring, but has since struggled in four starts against open
company. The 7-year-old son of Sadler's Wells (by Northern Dancer)
came into the race leading all steeplechasers with $140,488 in earnings
this year. Jody Petty rode for trainer Kathy Neilson.
Michael Watt's Hotspur, winless since April 2002, raced near the
back of the back and struggled home last. The 6-year-old son of
Pine Bluff was beaten just six lengths in the Grade I New York Turf
Writers' Cup at Saratoga in August. Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan
Sheppard tabbed Tom Foley to ride.
Augustin Stable's Lord Zada scratched.
The Breeders' Cup Steeplechase will be televised on the Long John
Silver's Wire to Wire program slated to air Thursday, October 23rd
at 12:30 p.m.
Results:
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FP
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Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
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1
|
McDynamo |
156 |
Craig Thornton |
Sanna Hendriks |
Michael Moran |
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2
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Pelagos (FR) |
156 |
Chip Miller |
F. Bruce Miller |
Michael Hoffman |
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3
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Mulahen (GB) |
156 |
David Bentley |
Katherine Neilson |
Mrs. S. K. Johnston Jr. |
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4
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Indispensable |
156 |
Paddy Young |
Jack Fisher |
Mrs. F. Eugene Dixon, Jr. |
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5
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Mr. Perkolater |
156 |
Robert Massey |
Katherine Neilson |
Mrs. S. K. Johnston Jr. |
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6
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Trebizond (Ire) |
156 |
Jody Petty |
Katherine Neilson |
Willaim C. Lickle |
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7
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Hotspur |
156 |
Tom Foley |
Jonathan Sheppard |
Hudson River Farms |
| Scr |
Lord Zada |
156 |
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Sanna Hendriks |
Augustin Stable |
back to top
Pedigree of Winner:
to follow.....
Pedigrees compliments of Del
Mar Pedigree Query
Previous Winners:
| YEAR |
FIRST (Age) |
JOCKEY |
lbs. |
SECOND (Age) |
lbs. |
THIRD (Age) |
lbs. |
| 2002 |
Flat Top (9) |
Massey |
156 |
Tres Touche (5) |
156 |
All Gong (GB) (8) |
156 |
| 2001 |
Quel Senor (Fr) (6) |
Murphy |
156 |
Lord Zada (8) |
156 |
Praise The Prince (6) |
156 |
| 2000 |
All Gong (GB) (6) |
B. Miller |
156 |
Popular Gigalo (6) |
156 |
Allgrit (5) |
156 |
| 1993 |
Lonesome Glory (5) |
B. Miller |
156 |
Highland Bud (8) |
156 |
Mistico (7) |
156 |
| 1992 |
Highland Bud (7) |
Dunwoody |
156 |
Mistico (6) |
156 |
Sassello (5) |
156 |
| 1991 |
Morley Street (7) |
Frost |
156 |
Declare Your Wish (5) |
156 |
Cheering News (4) |
146 |
| 1990 |
Morley Street (6) |
Frost |
156 |
Summer Colony (7) |
156 |
Moonstruck (7) |
156 |
| 1989 |
Highland Bud (4) |
Dunwoody |
146 |
Polar Pleasure (7) |
156 |
Victorian Hill (4) |
146 |
| 1998 |
Jimmy Lorenzo (6) |
McCourt |
156 |
Kalankoe (7) |
153 |
Polar Pleasure (6) |
156 |
| 1987 |
Gacko (6) |
Duchene |
156 |
Inlander (6) |
156 |
Gateshead (8) |
156 |
| 1986 |
Census (8) |
Teter |
156 |
Kesslin (6) |
156 |
Pont du Loup (6) |
156 |
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
