Post-Race Analysis:
New Kent, Virginia - July 16, 2006: Good Night Shirt won the $50,000
Grade III David L "Zeke" Ferguson Memorial at Colonial
Downs, defeating longshot Class Vantage by 2 1/2 lengths. It was
another 3 1/2 lengths back to Mark The Shark in third. The final
time for the 2 1/4-mile test was 4:03.06, almost three seconds off
the stakes record of 3:59.20 set by Spring Salute in 2000.
Good Night Shirt raced in mid-pack for most of the race as his
stablemate Mark The Shark and the mare, Orchid Princess led the
11-horse field early. Hawk Hill moved to the lead going into the
final turn, followed by Mark The Shark and Orchid Princess. Good
Night Shirt collared them at the top of the stretch, splitting horses
before holding off the late charging Class Vantage by 2 1/2 lengths.
Early leader Mark The Shark stayed on well to finish third.
The Ferguson was the first stakes victory for Harold A. Via's Good
Night Shirt. The 5-year-old son of Concern won an allowance race
at Saratoga last Summer and contested all three legs of the Steeplechase
Triple Crown this Spring, finishing third in the first two races
of the series and fifth in the final leg. He improved his record
3-2-2 over hurdles and increased his career steeplechase earnings
to $120,500.
Winning trainer Jack Fisher seems to have developed a knack for
annexing the Ferguson, as he has now won three of the nine runnings
of this Grade III event, including the last two in-a-row. As was
the case last year, Fisher again tabbed jockey Xavier Aizpur to
ride the winner.
The complete order of finish for the Grade III Zeke Ferguson is
set forth below.
Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Good Night Shirt |
146 |
Aizpuru |
Jack Fisher |
Harold A. Via, Jr. |
|
2
|
Class Vantage |
133 |
Boucher |
Lilith Boucher |
Mede Cahaba Stable |
|
3
|
Mark the Shark |
146 |
Dowling |
Jack Fisher |
Cohiba Stable |
|
4
|
Hawk Hill |
133 |
Petty |
Sanna N. Hendriks |
Stewart Strawbridge |
|
5
|
Orchid Princess |
138 |
Rafter |
Linda B. Klein |
Linda B. Klein |
|
6
|
Sound Blaster (Ire) |
146 |
Young |
F. Bruce Miller |
Bear Creek Stable |
|
7
|
Pals Pride |
150 |
Zimmerman |
Kevin Pallister |
Little Bay Racing Stable |
|
PU
|
Barzulu (NZ) |
146 |
McCarron |
Doug Fout |
Brigadoon Stable |
|
PU
|
Scuba Steve |
142 |
Walsh |
Kathy N. McKenna |
Perry J. Bolton |
|
PU
|
Niello |
146 |
Hodsdon |
William B. Cocks |
William B. Cocks |
|
PU
|
Kilbeggan Lad (Ire) |
158 |
Nagle |
Tom Foley |
Patrick F. Kehoe |
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Pedigree of Winner:
Click
here for Good Night Shirt's 5-cross pedigree.
Pedigrees compliments of Pedigree
Query.com
Previous Winners:
| YEAR |
FIRST (Age) |
JOCKEY |
lbs. |
SECOND (Age) |
lbs. |
THIRD (Age) |
lbs. |
|
2005
|
Paradise's Boss (5) |
Aizpuru |
146 |
McDynamo(8) |
154 |
Understood |
154 |
|
2004
|
Racey Dreamer (5) |
McCarron |
154 |
Shady Valley (5) |
142 |
Saitensohn (Ger) (6) |
142 |
|
2003
|
Anofferucantrefuse (6) |
Murphy |
146 |
Tres Touche (6) |
154 |
Praise The Prince (8) |
154 |
|
2002
|
Invest West (7) |
B. Miller |
150 |
Tres Touche (5) |
158 |
P.C. Plod |
158 |
|
2001
|
Indispensable (7) |
Delozier |
145 |
Avanico (9) |
144 |
Al Skywalker (8) |
154 |
|
2000
|
Spring Salute (6) |
Thornton |
142 |
Al Skywalker (7) |
140 |
Pompeyo (6) |
148 |
|
1999
|
Pinkie Swear (5) |
Clancy |
144 |
Ninepins (12) |
146 |
Campanile (5) |
154 |
|
1998
|
Flat Top (5) |
Patterson |
142 |
Approaching Squall (4) |
142 |
Mario (7) |
150 |
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
