Post-Race Analysis:
Saratoga Springs, NY - August 12, 2004: Praise The Prince (NZ)
won the 25th running of the $75,000 A.P. Smithwick by a half-length,
out finishing longshots Najjm and Barzulu (NZ) in an exciting stretch
run. The victory marked the second time that Praise The Prince has
captured the Grade II Smithwick in the last four years. The 9-year-old
gelding completed the 2 1/16th miles over the firm course that included
nine fences was 3:41.00, well off the track record of 3:26.2 set
by Hudson Bay while carrying 147 pounds in 1996.
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Praise The Prince (center) defeating
Najjm (left) and Barzulu (right) at the finish of the Grade
II Smithwick.
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Barzulu, making his first start in the United States under Irishman
Gerry Carwood, had a slim lead as the field approached the last
fence at the top of the stretch, with Praise the Prince to his inside
and Tres Touche mounting a bid from the rail. However, Barzulu stumbled
upon landing allowing Praise The Prince to seize the lead. Those
two battled on to the wire, as Najjm started to close fastest of
all, edging past Barzulu in the final strides only to fall a half-length
short of the winner in a thrilling finish.
Augustin Stable's Praise The Prince had been away from the races
for almost a year. The 8-year-old son of Prince of Praise (NZ) (by
Crossways (GB)) has shown an affinity for Saratoga, as he won the
Grade I New York Turf Writer's Handicap in his last start. The multiple
Grade I stakes winner has racked up over half a million dollars
in earnings while running over fences and is ultra-consistent, having
hit the board in all 20 of his last starts. Assigned high-weight
of 154 pounds for the Smithwick, Praise The Prince conceded between
four and 12 pounds to his rivals. He is conditioned by Sanna N.
Hendriks and was ridden for the first time by Robert Massey as his
regular rider, Gus Brown, is sidelined with a broken leg.
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Saitensohn leads (left-to-right) Party
Airs, Santenay, Tres Touche, Praise the Prince (obscured)
Tallow, Barzulu, Indispensable and Najjm at the 6th fence
of the Smithwick.
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"He's the ultimate professional," said Massey after the
race. "He had every right to fold up coming around the last
turn, but he's so determined, it's amazing! He never wants to give
up and he makes you ride that way. I was glad to get the ride and
I'm glad I could do the horse justice and stay out of his way."
"He's an extraordinary horse," winning trainer Sanna
Hendricks added. "When he sees another horse in front of him
he just wants to go get him. Regardless of whether the ground is
hard or soft, whether it's hot or cold, he doesn't care - you never
have to make excuses for him. He's a delightful horse to be around
and I'm just proud to be a part of his life."
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Jockey Rob Massey was aboard Praise The
Prince for the first time in the Smithwick.
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Mrs. S.K. Johnston's Najjm ran a huge race when he captured the
Grade III Gladstone at Far Hills in his last fall, but had finished
no better than third in four hurdle starts this year and was dismissed
at 60-1, the longest price on the board. The 7-year-old son of Dynaformer
is trained by F. Bruce Miller and was ridden by Robbie Walsh.
Barracuda Stable's Tres Touche was close-up while racing in hand
and made a strong bid at the top of the stretch before weakening
after final jump. The 7-year-old son of Poles Apart (by Danzig)
has won a steeplechase stakes race in each of the last four seasons,
but had never captured a Grade I stakes until he won the three-mile
Iroquois earlier this year. He is trained by Ricky Hendriks and
was ridden by David Bentley, who has been aboard for all 29 of his
career starts over fences.
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Najjm, shown here with jockey Robbie Walsh,
closed with a rush to finish second in the Smithwick.
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Mrs. F. Eugene Dixon's Indispensable stumbled over seventh fence
and finished a tired fifth. The 10-year-old son of Mane Minister
may be starting to feel the effects of his 41 career starts over
hurdles, as he is winless in five trips to the post this year. He
is trained by this year's leading steeplechase conditioner, Jack
Fisher, and was ridden by Blair Waterman.
Kenneth Ramsey's Party Airs was prominently places early before
tiring after the last fence on the backstretch. The 5-year-old son
of Geri (by Theatrical) is trained by Tom Voss and was ridden by
Cyril Murphy.
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Barzulu, shown here with jockey Gerry Carwood,
might have won the Smithwick if he hadn't stumbled over the
last fence.
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Harold Via's Santenay (Fr) grabbed the lead from Tres Touche after
the first half-mile but quickly dropped back when the real running
stated down the backstretch the last time. The 6-year-old son of
Mister Mat (Fr) (by Matahawk (Ire)) was making his first career
start in the United States. Trainer Doug Fout gave Matt McCarron
the ride.
Kenneth C. Avanzino's Tallow and Harold Via's Saitensohn (Ger)
were both pulled-up.
Click here for Daily Racing Form past performance
charts for the Smithwick (in PDF format).
Past performance charts are provided by the Daily
Racing Form
Click here
to play the Steeplestakes.com Summer 2004 Handicapping Contest.
The complete order of finish for the Smithwick is set forth below.
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.
Daily Racing Form Past Performance Charts
for the Carolina Cup!
Past performance charts are provided by the Daily
Racing Form
Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Praise The Prince (NZ) |
154
|
Massey
|
Sanna Hendriks |
Augustin Stable |
|
2
|
Najjm |
142 |
Walsh |
F. Bruce Miller |
Mrs. S.K. Johnston, Jr. |
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3
|
Barzulu (NZ) |
142 |
Carwood |
Doug Fout |
Brigadoon Stable |
|
4
|
Tres Touche |
150 |
Bentley |
Ricky Hendriks |
Barracuda Stable |
|
6
|
Indispensable |
150 |
Waterman |
Jack Fisher |
Mrs. F.E. Dixon, Jr. |
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6
|
Party Airs |
150 |
Murphy |
Thomas H. Voss |
Ken & Sarah Ramsey |
|
7
|
Sanenay (Fr) |
154 |
McCarron |
Doug Fout |
Eldon Farm |
|
PU
|
Saitensohn (Ger) |
142 |
Foley |
Jack Fisher |
Harold A. Via, Jr. |
|
PU
|
Tallow |
150 |
C. Miller |
F. Bruce Miller |
Kenneth C. Avanzino |
| 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: $193,615 |
| 7 |
Praise the Prince (NZ) |
3.90 |
2.90 |
2.80 |
|
| 2 |
Najjm |
|
29.20 |
12.80 |
|
| 1 |
Barzulu (NZ) |
|
|
7.70 |
|
| Wager Type |
Winning Numbers |
Payoff |
Pool |
Carryover |
| $2 Exacta |
7-2 |
123.00 |
180,478 |
|
| $2 Trifecta |
7-2-1 |
929.00 |
128,291 |
|
| Pgm |
Comment |
| 7 |
Praise the Prince (NZ): in hand early, prominent
throughout, game flat run, driving |
| 2 |
Najjm: reserved early, wide move, game finish
outside |
| 1 |
Barzulu (NZ): close up early, 3 wide run,
stumbled over last fence, gamely |
| 3 |
Tres Touche: close up in hand, with pace,
weakened after final jump |
| 4 |
Indispensable: stumbled over seventh fence,
tired |
| 6 |
Party Airs: with pace, tired after eighth
fence |
| 9 |
Santenay (FR): wide throughout, tired |
| 8 |
Tallow: left course before ninth |
| 5 |
Saitensohn (GER): pulled up after eighth,
vanned off |
| Footnotes
|
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PRAISE THE PRINCE (NZ) was
prominent from the outset while well in hand, moved to the
front over the eighth fence, dug in gamely after the last
and prevailed under a drive. NAJJM was reserved early, rallied
wide and finished gamely outside. BARZULU (NZ) raced close
up early, rallied three wide on the final turn, stumbled over
the last fence and stayed on gamely. TRES TOUCHE raced close
up while in hand and weakened after the last jump. INDISPENSABLE
stumbled over the seventh fence and tired. PARTY AIRS raced
with the pace and tired after the eighth jump. SANTENAY (FR)
raced wide throughout and tired. TALLOW left the course before
the ninth fence. SAITENSOHN (GER) was pulled up after the
eighth fence and was vanned off.
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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. |
| 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) |
Brown |
158 |
Aggro Crag (9) |
142 |
Spring Salute |
144 |
| 2002 |
It's A Giggle (8) |
Brown |
158 |
Tres Touche (5) |
154 |
Indispensable (8) |
150 |
| 2003 |
Anofferucantrefuse (6)
|
Murphy |
150 |
Praise The Prince (NZ) (8) |
150 |
Tres Touche (6) |
150 |
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
