'Jump' Newsletter - Edition 17
'Jump' Newsletter - Edition 17
Bruton Street-US' Snap Decision captured the G2 $75,000 Zeke Ferguson hurdle stakes while stablemate Dolly Fisher's Schoodic scored in the $75,000 International Gold Cup timber stakes
Welcome to the seventeenth edition of 'Jump.'
Just when we thought the Eclipse award voting was a done deal for Noah and the Ark, Snap Decision storms back onto the scene, stirring up the steeplechase waters once again.
Back on his preferred firmer surface, Snap Decision didn't just compete, he dominated. Despite giving away 12 to 20 lbs to a field that included Grade One winner Awakened, Snap Decision put them firmly in their place.
This year hasn't been Snap Decision's most spectacular season, yet it's been far from lackluster. He boasts two Grade 2 wins and a runner-up spot in the Grade 1 Iroquois. But is that enough to clinch the coveted Eclipse award?
Noah and the Ark may have only one win, but it's a big one - the biggest race of the year. Meanwhile, Merry Maker holds two wins, including a victory in the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory and a second place in the Grand National.
Personally, I'd love to see Snap Decision take home the award, but the claims of the other two horses are equally compelling.
What's your take? Who do you think deserves the Eclipse award this year? Let's hear your thoughts!
And don't forget - the more we share, the wider the range of opinions we get. So, if you found this newsletter interesting, please share it with your friends, family, and fellow horse racing enthusiasts.
Thanks for being a part of our ‘Jump’ community.
Riders Up!
Steve Coxon - USASteeplechase
In Case You Missed It: This Week's Top 4 USA Jump Racing Stories
Contents
International Gold Cup Recap - Snap Decision, Schoodic star in spectacular day for Fisher and Watters.
Horses - Happy retirement to NSA veteran Redicean
Entries - Overnights for this weekend
Jockeys - The Jockey Title Race Heats Up: Watters Ties with Bewsick
“The ‘Jump newsletter’ is an absolute boon to me. Now domiciled in the UK, it keeps me updated on US jump racing. Thank you.” - Barbara Shaw (Facebook)
Snap Decision, Schoodic star in spectacular day for Fisher and Watters!
From the International Gold Cup Races at Great Meadow Race Course
By Tod Marks
On a day that felt more like August at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., rather than The Plains in late October, Bruton Street-US' Snap Decision captured the G2 $75,000 Zeke Ferguson hurdle stakes while stablemate Dolly Fisher's Schoodic scored in the $75,000 International Gold Cup timber stakes.
Flashing the form that made him an electrifying force in the steeplechase world, Snap Decision dueled Upland Flats Racing and John Lewis' West Newton throughout the 2 1/8 contest, finally putting away his gutsy challenger after the final fence. The margin of victory for Snap Decision, who carried 20 pounds more than West Newton under the race's handicap conditions, was 3 lengths. And the victory came a week after Snap Decision was pulled up in the Grand National at Far Hills, over a soft course that wasn't to his liking.
Schoodic, who only recently returned after a lengthy layoff, has now captured two straight timber stakes, and on Saturday he beat his latest rival, Cracker Factory, also a stakes winner, by 6 1/4 lengths.
Watters captured his other two races aboard Bruton Street's Neotropic, also trained by Fisher, and Maranto Manor's Auction Kingdom, for trainer Neil Morris. Fisher's other score came with Northwoods Stable's Look North.
More photos at www.todmarks.photoshelter.com
Happy retirement to NSA veteran Redicean
By Tod Marks
Sharon Sheppard's nine-year-old British-bred stakes winner of $369,000, a veteran of eight seasons of racing and 45 starts (23 on the NSA circuit) will embark on a new career following a third-place finish in the Appleton Handicap Stakes at Far Hills on Saturday.
Said Sheppard after the race:
"I have given Redicean to Will Slater - they have had a special bond from the get go. Will shows and Redicean would make a great prospect for Will.
"Redicean is sound and happy - what more could I want? He has been a special horse who owes me nothing. His next chapter will involve those who love him and take great care with him."
Will's mom, Brianne Slater, is an assistant to Redicean's trainer Leslie Young.
I've posted a photo gallery of Redicean's U.S. career. You can access it by clicking on the link to my website:
https://todmarks.photoshelter.com/.../G00004U.3nSaOXyE/
Overnights for the Steeplechase At Callaway Gardens Saturday November 4, Montpelier Hunt Races November 4, and Pennsylvania Hunt Cup November 5.
Callaway Gardens
Monpelier
Pennsylvania Hunt Cup
The Jockey Title Race Heats Up: Watters Ties with Beswick
By USASteeplechase
Over the weekend, the competition for the leading jockey title intensified as Graham Watters rode a 4-bagger, narrowing the gap with Harrison Beswick.
Watters, an Irish-born jockey, now boasts 16 wins, tying him with Beswick at the top of the leaderboard.
With only five race meetings remaining this season, the stakes are high. Intriguingly, two of these meetings overlap, meaning each jockey can only participate in four more races.
This one is going to the wire!
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Check back on Tuesday for more USA Steeplechase news and insights!
Steve
@USASteeplechase - Twitter, Facebook and Instagram