Post-Race Analysis:
Far Hills, New Jersey - October 28, 2006: McDynamo dominated the
$250,000 Grade I Breeders' Cup Grand National Steeplechase, winning
North America's richest steeplechase for the fourth consecutive
year while leaping past Hall of Famer Lonesome Glory atop American
steeplechasing's career earnings list in the process. The 22-length
victory propelled last year's steeplechase Champion toward another
possible crown, which he could cement with a victory in the Grade
I Colonial Cup November 19th.
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McDynamo made history by winning the
Grade I Breeders' Cup Grand National Steeplechase for the
fourth consecutive year.
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The race turned into a laugher when jockey Jody Petty powered McDynamo
past early leader Mauritania on the final run down the backstretch.
Quickly five lengths in front, the 9-year-old stayed in front of
Chivite (Ire) around the final turn and won by 22 lengths in 5:58
1/5 over soft turf. Mixed Up finished a distant third, followed
by Mauritania in fourth and Kilbeggan Lad, who was pulled up approaching
the last fence. McDynamo completed the 2 5/8ths-mile course that
had been soaked by a heavy rain the night before in a slow 5:58
1/5, more than a minute off the track record of 4:53 4/5 established
by All Gong (GB) in 2000 over a firm course.
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McDynamo leads (right-to-left) Mixed
Up and Chivite at the 4th fence of the Breeders' Cup Grand
National Steeplechase.
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At $250,000, the Breeders' Cup stands as the richest steeplechase
in North America but might soon be known as McDynamo's personal
playground. The Kentucky-bred son of Dynaformer won the race for
the fourth straight time and improved to 6-for-6 over the Far Hills
course, site of his maiden win in 2001. Trained by Sanna Hendriks,
McDynamo always looked the part of a good horse but had people talking
legends Saturday.
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Early pace setter Mauritania leads McDynamo
and Chivite at the 9th fence of the Breeders' Cup Grand National
Steeplechase.
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"He does things so easily, it's weird," said Hendriks. "He doesn't
look like he's working hard at all, and other horses struggle, especially
in going like this. I guess that's what greatness is - it's horses
who can put it all together that become this good. They have the
right mind, the right body, the right everything. That's what sets
McDynamo, Lonesome Glory and the others over time apart."
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Winning jockey Jody Petty was all smiles
after the race.
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An $82,000 Keeneland yearling purchase, McDynamo won twice on the
flat before switching to jumps in 2001. Since then, he's won 13
of 21 starts and $1,028,104 and looks poised to add a 2006 Eclipse
Award to his championships won in 2003 and 2005. Next up for the
9-year-old son of Dynaformer will be the Colonial Cup (Gr. I) November
19 in Camden, South Carolina, where he will likely meet Hirapour
- a late scratch at Far Hills due to the soft turf.
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Winning owner Michael Moran shares a
luagh with his wife Ann (center) and winning trainer Sanna
Neilson after the Breeders' Cup Grand National .
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For Petty, the race grew easier as it went along. Mauritania set
a mild early pace, but wilted when the champion applied pressure
on the backstretch. Quickly in front, McDynamo powered over the
three fences on the backstretch and drew clear of longshot Chivite
on the final turn. From there, it was a coronation as Petty patted
the horse neck and ears through the stretch.
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McDynamo, shown here warming up before
the race, is the Fourstardave of Far Hills, as he has now
won a race over that course an incredible six years in a row.
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"Mauritania looked like he was getting a little tired, so I figured
we should go on," said the jockey. "McDynamo just opened up his
stride and went to the front. Then on the turn, I figured they were
close to me. When I looked, we were so far in front I had to look
again. He gets there so easily it amazes you."
(Edited from NSA press release)
The complete order of finish for the Breeders' Cup Grand National
Steeplechase is set forth below.
Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
McDynamo |
156 |
Petty |
Sanna Hendriks |
Michael Moran |
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2
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Chivite (Ire) |
156 |
Young |
F. Bruce Miller |
Calvin Houghland |
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3
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Mixed Up |
156 |
Hodsdon |
Jonathan Sheppard |
William L. Pape |
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4
|
Mauritania |
156 |
Massey |
Richard Valentine |
Whitewood Stable |
|
PU
|
Kilbeggan Lad (Ire) |
156 |
Walsh |
Tom Foley |
Patrick F. Kehoe |
|
Scr
|
Hirapour (Ire) |
156 |
McCarron |
Doug Fout |
Eldon Farm |
back to top
Pedigree of Winner:
Click
here for McDynamo's 5-cross pedigree.
Pedigrees compliments of Pedigree
Query
Previous Winners:
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YEAR
|
FIRST (Age) |
JOCKEY |
lbs. |
SECOND (Age) |
lbs. |
THIRD (Age) |
lbs. |
|
2005
|
McDynamo (8) |
Petty |
156 |
Three Carat (5) |
156 |
Hirapour (Ire) (9) |
156 |
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2004
|
McDynamo (7) |
Thornton |
156 |
Hirapour (Ire) (8) |
156 |
Sur La Tete (6) |
156 |
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2003
|
McDynamo (6) |
Thornton |
156 |
Pelagos (FR) (8) |
156 |
Mullahen |
156 |
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2002
|
Flat Top (9) |
Massey |
156 |
Tres Touche (5) |
156 |
All Gong (GB) (8) |
156 |
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2001
|
Quel Senor (Fr) (6) |
Murphy |
156 |
Lord Zada (8) |
156 |
Praise The Prince (6) |
156 |
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2000
|
All Gong (GB) (6) |
B. Miller |
156 |
Popular Gigalo (6) |
156 |
Allgrit (5) |
156 |
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1993
|
Lonesome Glory (5) |
B. Miller |
156 |
Highland Bud (8) |
156 |
Mistico (7) |
156 |
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1992
|
Highland Bud (7) |
Dunwoody |
156 |
Mistico (6) |
156 |
Sassello (5) |
156 |
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1991
|
Morley Street (7) |
Frost |
156 |
Declare Your Wish (5) |
156 |
Cheering News (4) |
146 |
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1990
|
Morley Street (6) |
Frost |
156 |
Summer Colony (7) |
156 |
Moonstruck (7) |
156 |
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1989
|
Highland Bud (4) |
Dunwoody |
146 |
Polar Pleasure (7) |
156 |
Victorian Hill (4) |
146 |
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1988
|
Jimmy Lorenzo (6) |
McCourt |
156 |
Kalankoe (7) |
153 |
Polar Pleasure (6) |
156 |
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1987
|
Gacko (6) |
Duchene |
156 |
Inlander (6) |
156 |
Gateshead (8) |
156 |
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1986
|
Census (8) |
Teter |
156 |
Kesslin (6) |
156 |
Pont du Loup (6) |
156 |
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
