Post-Race Analysis:
Elmont, New York - June 3, 2004: Sur La Tete galloped to an easy
3 1/2-length victory over Serazzo in the $100,000 Meadow Brook,
establishing a new track record in the process. Sur La Tete needed
only 4:36.53 to complete the 2 1/2-mile course at Belmont Park that
included 12 hurdles, besting the previous course record of 4:37.32
established by Sharp Face in 2002.
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Sur La Tete leads Serazzo at the finish
of the Grade I Meadow Brook.
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Sur la Tete captured the first and third legs of the Steeplechase
Triple Crown this year, and missed becoming the first horse to sweep
all three legs of the series by a mere 4 1/4 lengths when he finished
third to Racey Dreamer and Serazzo in the National Hunt Cup. The
Steeplechase Triple Crown is restricted to horses that had not won
a steeplechase race prior to March 1, 2003.
Sur La Tete raced in seventh place early in the Meadow Brook, as
Mauritania and Naughty Prince took turns leading the field while
being tracked by Serazzo and Jonstar (NZ). Sur La Tete eased into
fifth place after the field had completed one of its two circuits
of Belmont's grand oval, and moved into contention as the field
straightened away down the backstretch the last time. Calvin McCormick
on Mauritania and David Bentley on Naughty Prince tried to squeeze
Sur La Tete back approaching the last fence on the backstretch,
but Chris Read gunned Sur La Tete through the rapidly closing hole,
and forged his way to the front entering the far turn. Serazzo took
up the chase in second, but never threatened as Sur La Tete cruised
over the last two fences in the stretch to draw away under a hand
ride. A claim of foul for interference approaching the last fence
on the backstretch lodged by Calvin McCormack was disallowed.
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Right-to-left: Naughty Prince, Mauritania,
Serazzo, Sur La Tete, Jonstar (NZ), Foretold (Ire) and Cherokeeinthehills
at the seventh fence of the Meadow Brook.
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"It was my first time winning on this course, and I'm proud because
there is a lot of history here," said winning jockey Chris
Read after the race. "Early on, my horse didn't have much of
a kick. There was a good pace and the course was pretty firm. I
was worried that I wouldn't be able top catch Serazzo, so I went
after him. Last time, he made the move first and I knew that whoever
made the move would get home first."
As for the frivolous claim of foul, Read commented that "The
stewards checked to see if I had pushed on the other horse, but
they just saw that I had them in tight and nothing happened."
Sur La Tete came to steeplechasing after washing out of a flat
career with his breeder Rutledge Farm. The 6-year-old son of Sky
Classic (by Nijinsky II) never raced for Rutledge because of some
rogue behavior, and was languishing when steeplechase trainer Neil
Morris bought the horse for Kinross Farm. Morris re-broke Sur La
Tete from scratch, and came up with a star. The Meadow Brook was
Sur La Tete's third Grade I victory, and he has now tallied four
wins in nine starts over fences while bankrolling $212,060.
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Left-to-right: Foretold (Ire), South
by Gosh (obscured), Jonstar (NZ), Cherokeeinthehills, Serazzo,
Mauritania and Naughty Prince at the first fence of the Meadow
Brook.
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"This horse was a complete rogue when he was younger,
said winning owner Zohar Ben-Dov. We saw him standing out in a field,
and decided to take a chance with him. He still freaks out and acts
a bit nuts, so we brought him to a farm on Long Island a couple
of days ago."
Martin Cherry's Serazzo raced close up early, rallied three wide
on the final turn and stayed on to be second best. The 8-year-old
son of Kris S (by Roberto) and Peruvian champion La Chaposa, is
bred to the nines and, as such, has not been gelded, which is unusual
for a steeplechase horse. His full-brother You And I was a multiple
graded stakes winner on the flat, capturing such coveted races as
the Grade I Met Mile, the Grade II Brooklyn Handicap, the Grade
II Cowdin Stakes and the Grade III Riva Ridge Stakes and earning
more than $700,000 before embarking on a career at stud, where he
has sired numerous stakes winners including Grade I winner You.
Serazzo's half-sister, Chaposa Springs, is a also a multiple graded
stakes winner on the flat who earned over $700,000, notching victories
in the Grade I Test and the Grade I Ballerina, among others, during
her career. Owned by Martin Cherry, Serazzo won five races and nearly
$200,000 on the flat with trainer John Kimmel before being sent
to Maryland-based trainer Tom Voss to learn how to jump.
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Chris Read is congratulated by winning
owner Zohar Ben-Dov after winning the Grade I Meadow Brook.
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Augustin Stable's Jonstar (NZ) raced close up while in hand early,
put in a run nearing the tenth fence and faded through the stretch
while just barely holding off Whitewood Farm's Mauritania by a neck.
The later received a suspect ride from Calvin McCormack, who had
to take his mount up sharply around the last turn after running
up the heels of Naughty Prince and then elected to come up the inside
of Jonstar approaching the wire when he had clear run on the outside.
Had McCormack rode with his head up around the final turn or maintained
a straight course on the run-in he would have easily secured a third-place
finish.
Barracuda Stable’s Naughty Prince flashed early speed and argued
the pace before tiring. The 5-year-old son of Rakeen (by Northern
Dancer) is trained by Ricky Hendriks and was ridden by David Bentley.
Marilyn S. Ketts' Cherokeeinthehills raced in last place for much
of the race and had no response when roused. The 7-year-old son
of Grade I winner Cherokee Colony (by Pleasant Colony) was a stakes
winner on the flat before being converted to hurdles last year,
but has only one steeplechase victory from nine starts. He is trained
by Hall of Fame conditioner Jonathan Sheppard and was ridden by
Danielle Hodsdon.
Udeman and Preferred Guest both scratched.
Trainer Doug Fout held a very strong hand coming into the Meadow
Brook, as he is the trainer of Grade I winners Racey Dreamer (National
Hunt Cup) and Hirapour (Royal Chase), either of whom would have
been favored if they had entered the race. However, Fout declared
last month that he would pass the Meadow Brook with Racey Dreamer
and point Hirapour to the race instead. That plan seems to have
backfired on the Virginia-based trainer when it was announced earlier
this week that Hirapour (Ire), a Grade I winner against open company
in April, would miss the Meadow Brook with a respiratory problem.
Hirapour, who leads all United States-based jumpers in 2004 earnings,
will get the summer off and point for the rich Grade I stakes in
the fall and a possible Eclipse Award for owner Eldon Farm.
Last year's co-champion steeplechase jockey Matt McCarron was denied
his personal bid to become the first jockey to sweep all three legs
of the Steeplechase Triple Crown when he finished last upon Foretold
(Ire). McCarron rode Sur La Tete to victory in the first leg of
the series, but was replaced by Sur La Tete's regular rider, Chris
Read, in the second leg of the series, the National Hunt Cup. Unfazed
by the rider change, McCarron never missed a beat as he guided Racey
Dreamer to victory in the National Hunt Cup to keep his personal
Triple Crown bid alive.
Click here for Daily Racing Form past performance
charts for the Meadow Brook.
Past performance charts are provided by the Daily
Racing Form.
Click here
to play the Steeplestakes.com Spring 2004 Handicapping Contest.
A complete order of finish for the Meadow Brook is set forth below.
The Meadow Brook is named after the Meadow Brook Hounds, a pack
of foxhounds that was based near Belmont Park on the north shore
of Nassau County, Long Island. Founded in 1881, the hunt was generally
considered one of the best in the United States during the first
half of the 20th century. Mr. F. Ambrose Clark, for many years a
leading steeplechase owner, was the master of the Meadow Brook Hounds
in the 1920's, and the grandfather of current leading steeplechase
trainer Tom Voss used to hunt with Meadow Brook when he lived on
Long Island. The Meadow Brook Hounds annually held a well-attended
steeplechase race meeting on Mr. Clark's property starting in 1919,
and the trophy that will be presented to this year's winning owner
is the same trophy that was presented to the winning owners last
century. The Meadow Brook Hounds folded in 1970 as a result of the
development of Nassau County, which borders New York City and is
only 12 miles from Manhattan. The hunt's clubhouse still stands
today as the home of the Meadow Brook Golf Club in Jericho, New
York.
Results:
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FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Sur La Tete |
154 |
Read |
Neil Morris |
Kinross Farm |
|
2
|
Serazzo |
151 |
Murphy |
Tom Voss |
Martin Cherry |
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3
|
Jonstar (NZ) |
151 |
Brown |
Sanna Hendriks |
Augustin Stables |
|
4
|
Mauritania |
151 |
McCormack |
Richard Valentine |
Whitewood Farm |
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5
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Naughty Prince |
151 |
Bentley |
Ricky Hendriks |
Barracuda Stables |
|
4
|
Cherokeeinthehills |
148 |
Hodsdon |
Jonathan Sheppard |
Marilyn S. Ketts |
|
3
|
South By Gosh |
148 |
Foley |
Bruce Haynes |
Anne O. Haynes |
|
6
|
Foretold (Ire) |
137 |
McCarron |
Jonathan Sheppard |
Bjorn Nielsen |
|
S
|
Udeman |
148 |
C. Miller |
F. Bruce Miller |
Clorevia Stable |
|
S
|
Preferred Guest |
151 |
Young |
Jack Fisher |
Harold A. Via, Jr. |
| Winner: |
Sur La Tete - Bay Gelding, February 03, 1998
Bred by Rutledge Farm in KY |
| Pedigree: |
Sky Classic - Rutledge Place , by Caro (IRE)
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| Scratched Horses: |
Udeman, Preferred Guest |
| Pgm |
Horse |
Win |
Place |
Show |
Total WPS
Pool: $119,768 |
| 5 |
Sur La Tete |
8.90 |
3.30 |
2.40 |
|
| 8 |
Serazzo |
|
2.60 |
2.20 |
|
| 10 |
Jonstar (NZ) |
|
|
2.90 |
|
| Wager Type |
Winning Numbers |
Payoff |
Pool |
Carryover |
| $2 Exacta |
5-8 |
19.80 |
136,474 |
|
| $2 Trifecta |
5-8-10 |
68.00 |
101,624 |
|
| Pgm |
Comment |
| 5 |
Sur La Tete: in hand early, bulled way through,
took over after tenth, driving |
| 8 |
Serazzo: close up early, 3 wide move final
turn, second best |
| 10 |
Jonstar (NZ): close up in hand, outside move,
faded after tenth fence |
| 9 |
Mauritania: speed outside, argued pace, tired
after tenth |
| 1 |
Naughty Prince: speed inside, argued pace,
tired |
| 4 |
Cherokeeinthehills: no response when roused |
| 3 |
South by Gosh: tired |
| 6 |
Foretold (IRE): wide early, tired |
| Footnotes
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SUR LA TETE raced in hand for
one circuit, bulled his way through between rivals running
to the tenth fence, took over after that jump, drew clear
and remained well clear while being kept busy to the finish.
SERAZZO raced close up early, rallied three wide on the final
turn and stayed on to be second best. JONSTAR (NZ) raced close
up while in hand, put in a run nearing the tenth fence and
faded. MAURITANIA argued the pace from the outside and tired
after the tenth fence. NAUGHTY PRINCE argued the pace along
the inside and tired. CHEROKEEINTHEHILLS had no response when
roused. SOUTH BY GOSH tired. FORETOLD (IRE) raced wide early
and tired. A claim of foul against the winner by the rider
of the fourth place finisher, alleging interference approaching
the tenth fence, was not allowed.
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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 |
Trebizond (Ire) (7) |
Foley |
154 |
Blasphemous (5) |
151 |
Mr. Perkolater (5) |
151 |
| 2002 |
Sharp Face (6) |
C. Miller |
151 |
Anofferucantrefuse (5) |
154 |
Najjm (6) |
160 |
| 2001 |
Praise The Prince (NZ) (6) |
Brown |
160 |
Pelagos (Fr) (6) |
151 |
War Talk (6) |
151 |
| 2000 |
Yellowroad (5) |
Kiser |
152 |
Indispensable (6) |
150 |
Pompeyo (Chi) (6) |
152 |
| 1999 |
Popular Gigalo (5) |
C. Miller |
152 |
Spring Salute (5) |
150 |
Aproaching Squall (5) |
154 |
| 1971 |
Wustenchef (6) |
M. O'Brien |
154 |
Shadow Brook (7) |
154 |
Madagascar (5) |
140 |
| 1970 |
National Anthem (6) |
L. O'Brien |
143 |
Attribution (5) |
143 |
Gentle Boy (8) |
136 |
| 1969 |
L'Escargot (6) |
Carberry |
148 |
Rural Riot (7) |
139 |
Wanderlure (8) |
147 |
| 1968 |
Sun Game (8) |
Fishback |
141 |
Irish Hammer (6) |
146 |
Duke Cannon (4) |
138 |
| 1967 |
Mako (7) |
L. O'Brien |
160 |
Golpista (9) |
144 |
Tuscalee (7) |
138 |
| 1966 |
Mako (6) |
Walsh |
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| 1965 |
Golpista (9) |
Small |
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Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
