Post-Race Analysis:
Nashville, Tennessee - May 8, 2004: Tres Touche romped to a 20
3/4-length victory in the 63rd running of the $100,000 Grade I Iroquois
to capture the first Grade I race in his long career, which has
spanned five seasons. Snowball Flannagan rallied late for second
after Preemptive Strike fell at the last fence, while Duke Of Earl
finished third. The winner covered the three-mile course that included
18 fences in 5:38.6, more than 14 seconds slower than the stakes
record of 5:24.2 set by Uncle Edwin in 1986.
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Tres Touche captured the first Grade
I victory of his career when he won the Iroquois.
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Preemptive Strike set most of the pace, but was joined by Tres
Touche with less than a mile to go. Jumping efficiently, Tres Touche
reeled in Preemptive Strike with four fences to go, carried a two-length
lead into the last and was in command the rest of the way. The others
never threatened.
“We thought Preemptive Strike would make the running and we would
take our time a little bit,” winning jockey David Bentley told the
National Steeplechase Association (NSA). “The plan was to jump our
way down the backside and see what happened. He had plenty and it
worked perfectly.”
Tres Touche came into the Iroquois with nearly $400,000 in career
jump earnings, but had never been better than second at the Grade
I level, although he posted solid runner-up efforts in the 2003
New York Turf Writers Cup, the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase and
the 2002 Colonial Cup for trainer Ricky Hendriks.
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Jockey David Bentley and trainer Ricky
Hendriks teamed up to capture the Grade I Iroquois with Tres
Touche.
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The three-mile Iroquois is the longest hurdle race on the NSA calendar,
and that marathon distance plus the 87-degree heat were apparently
the ticket for Tres Touche, who was making his second start of the
season.
Bentley, who has ridden Tres Touche in all 28 of his career starts
over hurdles, believed the Grade I victory was much deserved for
a horse who’s knocked on the door more times than anyone can remember:
“It’s absolutely fabulous. This horse deserves it so much, it’s
just a great day for him,” Bentley told the NSA. “He’s my favorite
horse. I started riding him as a 3-year-old and he’s been second
to some pretty nice horses through the years. He always gives 101
percent and today it paid off for him.”
Bentley dedicated the victory to his father, who died from Parkinson's
disease at the age of 60 earlier this spring. ''I think my dad was
watching me today,'' Bentley said. ''He came over (to the U.S.)
a few times to watch me ride a few winners. So that was one for
him today.''
Barracuda Stable's Tres Touche has been ultra-consistent throughout
his career, hitting the board in 24 of his 28 starts over fences.
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 graded stakes until he won the Grade III Marcellus Frost over
the Iroquois course last year.
Mrs. S.K. Johnston's Snowball Flannagan trailed the field early
before making his customary late charge, but could not close any
ground on the uphill finish known as heartbreak hill. Snowball Flannagan
had strung together a two-race win streak this season prior to the
Iroquois. The 9-year-old son of Affirmed (by Exclusive Native) won
the Grade III Temple Gwathmey by 8 1/2 lengths in his last start,
and also took the Imperial Cup at Aiken. Veteran trainer Janet Elliot
tabbed former champion steeplechase jockey Gus Brown to ride.
''He's got a great running style, but it's tough to make up ground
late in these 3-mile races, especially on courses like this with
a big, testing hill,'' said Brown. ''He wants to get himself so
far out of the race early that it kind of compromised him. It's
a lot to make up late in the race.''
''I love the horse to death, but one of the things that's hard
about him is you can't force him early,'' Brown continued. ''You
have to let him get into a rhythm. When he's ready to start galloping,
he starts galloping. So you're sitting up there going, 'OK, Snowball
it's time to get going.' ''
Mrs. F. Eugene Dixon, Jr.'s Duke Of Earl (Ire) settled in behind
Preemptive Strike but then dropped back and was 60 lengths behind
Tres Touche at the finish. The 5-year-old son of Ali-Royal (Ire)
(by Royal Academy) was recently imported from England where he had
registered one victory from six starts over fences. He finished
fourth in his only other start in the United States, an allowance
hurdle race at Middleburg last month. He is trained by Jack Fisher
and was ridden by apprentice Xavier Aizpuru.
Calvin Houghland's Gallant Turk was not a factor early and struggled
home last beaten more than 87 lengths. The 8-year-old son of Turkoman
was ridden by Ted Thompson and trained by his wife, Dabney.
Polaris Stable's Preemptive Strike came into the Iroquois sporting
a 2-for-3 mark this year with wins in the Little Everglades Stakes
and the Grade III Carolina First Carolina Cup. However, his effort
in the Grade I Royal Chase at Keeneland last month may have earned
him more admirers than either of his victories. The 6-year-old son
of Roanoke (by Pleasant Colony), set the pace throughout in the
Royal Chase, was passed by Hirapour on the final turn, battled back
to take a slim lead after the last fence but was eventually worn
down by Hirapour's effort to lose by 1 3/4-lengths. He is trained
by former Michael Dickinson assistant Paul Rowland, and was ridden
by apprentice Robbie Walsh.
''He just got a little confused and didn't pick up on the last
jump,'' Walsh said. ''It was a pity because the horse tried so hard.
It's not scary. If it were, we wouldn't do this job. But it's frustrating.''
Calvin Houghland's Airolo (Fr) was pulled-up in his attempt to
give trainer Bruce Miller his second consecutive Iroquois victory
after Pelagos won the race in 2003. The 6-year-old is by the same
sire as Pelagos: Exit To Nowhere (by Irish River (Fr)).
Eldon Farm Racing Stable Imperial Gold (NZ) fell . He was ridden
by Matt McCarron and is trained by Doug Fout.
NOTES: Stakes veteran Al Skywalker dominated the $50,000 Grade
III Marcellus Frost Stakes on the Iroquois undercard for owner/trainer
Jennifer Majette and jockey Tom Foley. The 11-year-old gelding ended
a nearly year-long victory drought and was promptly retired by Majette
to a life of babysitting young horses on her North Carolina farm.
Click here for Daily Racing Form past performance
charts for the Iroquois (in PDF format).
Past performance charts are provided by the Daily
Racing Form
The complete order of finish for the Iroquois is set forth below.
A STEEPLECHASE CONNECTION TO SMARTY JONES
Though he probably will never see a jump, Kentucky Derby winner
Smarty Jones has a steeplechase connection through owners Pat and
Roy Chapman.
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Smarty Jones roars to victory in Kentucky
Derby 130. NTRA photo.
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The Chapmans campaigned steeplechase horses with Pennsylvania trainer
Paddy Neilson for years, and won the 1989 Maryland Hunt Cup timber
stakes with Uncle Merlin who later raced in the English Grand National.
Neilson's stable included horses owned by the Chapmans for several
seasons, until they branched off into flat racing with trainer Bob
Camac and later John Servis.
"Since they moved from here five years ago, I don't see them as
much as I used to, but we stay in touch," said Neilson. "Back in
June I asked Chappy about his horses, and he told me 'Remember this
name -- Smarty Jones.' He was sending them very good signals from
the get-go."
About an hour before Smarty Jones won the Derby, Neilson sent out
Joe At Six to win the $50,000 Virginia Gold Cup timber stakes. He
hoped it would be a good sign.
"I was rooting for him, but everyone was in this area," said Neilson.
"Smarty Jones has been very good for Philadelphia and Pennsylvania
in general."
The Chapmans have long been involved in horses -- steeplechasers,
event horses (they owned champion Eagle Lion), show horses and foxhunters
-- and were active participants in the management of their Someday
Farm near New London in Chester County. Both rode regularly and
foxhunted with the Andrews Bridge (Pa.) Foxhounds.
"Pat was always very hands-on when they had the farm," said Neilson.
"They did it right, had good help and worked at it. It's not just
luck that got them where they are. They've been horsemen for a long
time."
NOTES: Through Wednesday, May 5th, 2003 apprentice champion Danielle
Hodsdon led the NSA jockey standings with nine wins, one more than
defending champion Matt McCarron. New NSA jockeys Xavier Aizpuru
(from England) and Clayton Chipperfield (from New Zealand) rounded
out the top four with six and five, respectively . . . Among the
trainers, 2004 champion Jack Fisher and Hall of Fame conditioner
Jonathan Sheppard are tied with 9 wins each. The latter is off to
a torrid 9-for-21 start.
Edited from NSA press releases.
Click here
to play the Steeplestakes.com Spring 2004 Handicapping Contest.
Results:
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PP
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Horse
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lbs
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Jockey
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Trainer
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Owner
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1
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Tres Touche |
158 |
Bentley |
Ricky Hendriks |
Barracuda Stable |
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2
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Snowball Flannagan |
158 |
Brown |
Janet Elliot |
Mrs. S.K. Johnston, Jr. |
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3
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Duke Of Earl (Ire) |
158 |
Aizpuru |
Jack Fisher |
Mrs. F. Eugene Dixon, Jr. |
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4
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Gallant Turk |
158 |
Thompson |
Dabney Thompson |
Calvin Houghland |
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PU
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Airolo (Fr) |
158 |
C. Miller |
F. Bruce Miller |
Calvin Houghland |
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F
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Imperial Gold (NZ) |
158 |
McCarron |
Doug Fout |
Eldon Farm Racing Stable |
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F
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Preemptive Strike |
158 |
Walsh |
Paul Rowland |
Polaris Stable |
back to top
Pedigree of Winner:
to follow.....
Pedigrees compliments of Thoroughbred
Pedigree Query
Previous Winners:
| YEAR |
FIRST (Age) |
JOCKEY |
lbs. |
SECOND (Age) |
lbs. |
THIRD (Age) |
lbs. |
| 2003 |
Pelagos (Fr) (8) |
Foley |
158 |
Praise The Prince (NZ) (8) |
158 |
Storm Touch (7) |
158 |
| 2002 |
All Gong (GB) (8) |
B. Miller |
158 |
Praise The Prince (NZ) (7) |
158 |
Flat Top (9) |
158 |
| 2001 |
Rand (NZ) (7) |
E. Lamb |
158 |
All Gong (GB) (7) |
158 |
Electron (8) |
158 |
| 2000 |
Pinkie Swear (6) |
Clancy |
154 |
All Gong (GB) (6) |
158 |
Greek Hero (7) |
158 |
| 1999 |
Rowdy Irishman (10) |
Marzullo |
156 |
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| 1998 |
Rowdy Irishman (9) |
Marzullo |
156 |
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| 1997 |
Correggio (Ire) (6) |
Kingsley |
156 |
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| 1996 |
To Ridley (6) |
Clancy |
156 |
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| 1995 |
Lonesome Glory (7) |
B. Miller |
156 |
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| 1994 |
Mistico (8) |
Thornton |
168 |
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| 1993 |
Mistico (7) |
S. Neilson |
168 |
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| 1992 |
Victorian Hill (7) |
B. Miller |
168 |
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Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
