'Jump' Newsletter - Edition 6 (August 2nd, 2023)
'Jump' Newsletter - Edition 6 (August 2nd, 2023)
"He came out of his work flying. Just gave him his final school and he was trying to buck Parker off he’s so fresh. He’s really turned a corner the past 10 days” - Keri Brion
Welcome to the sixth edition of 'Jump.'
The sun has barely risen, and the road is calling. It's Wednesday, and I'm gearing up for one of those glorious three-hour drives that promises only four minutes of heart-racing action. Destination? The illustrious Saratoga Race Course is a mere 160 miles from my Connecticut home. But this isn't just any trip; it's the culmination of a grand experiment that began with a simple tweet.
Eight weeks ago, out of the blue, my Twitter notifications chimed with a message from a guy named Jack Cantillon.
“Can I ask a quick question?" He had asked, "What UK mark do you need to be competitive with a quick ground horse at Far Hills?"
Fast forward two months, and here we are. Jack Cantillon, a man with a plan and a passion for horse racing, had gone out and purchased Restitution, a promising sort sired by none other than Frankel. We syndicated his shares across the USA, UK, and Ireland and arranged for Restitution's transatlantic journey to the US via JFK.
As Jack aptly put it in a recent interview, “This isn’t just a horse, it’s a hugely exciting journey that, if we pull it off, maybe our greatest ever achievement."
And now, as I make the trek to Saratoga, I can't help but share in Jack's excitement. The audacity of the whole thing is thrilling.
So here's to Restitution, to Jack, and to every one of us who believes in the benefits of dreaming big. No matter what happens at Saratoga, we've already won by daring to embark on this grand experiment. And who knows? Maybe Restitution will gallop his way to victory. After all, in horse racing, as in life, anything is possible.
Riders up!
Steve Coxon - USASteeplechase
In Case You Missed It: This Week's Top 5 USA Jump Racing Stories
Contents
From the Horses Mouth - The Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes
Colonial Preview - Abaan’s Jumping Debut.
Wednesday’s Saratoga Recap - Local Win
News - Barry John Foley injured in a schooling accident.
Feature Race Meet - The 69th Virginia Fall Races on October 14th, 2023
From the Horses Mouth - The Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes
Jump Racing at the Spa! Photo by Peggy Kohn
Barry Foley on McTigue- “He was a fortunate winner the last day but it was still a very pleasing run for his us debut. Cyril’s horses are in great order so hopefully he can run a big race.”
Tom Garner on Awakened - “Awakened is a lovely horse I’ve schooled him and worked him a few times recently and he’s going great a home, jack has him in great form! He won a very competitive race at Radnor and if he runs to that form again he should be there or thereabouts.”
Parker Hendriks on Restitution - “Restitution is a relatively new face in the barn. He is extremely kind, and came with great reports from Alan King’s. He’s schooling and working well at fair hill. He obviously has a lot of weight, so that will factor in to the race. Hopefully he goes there with a chance and we will learn a lot about him after Wednesday’s run!”
Keri Brion on Restitution - “Restitution came out of his work flying. Just gave him his final school and he was trying to buck Parker off he’s so fresh. He’s really turned a corner the past 10 days”
Ricky Hendriks on Realist - “Very nice horse. He was Champion 3 yr. Hopefully he comes back to form.”
Harrison Beswick on Realist - “Very competitive field. He's got a lot of ability, which he showed on his US debut at far hills. I'm confident he'll make a good account of himself”
Leslie Young on Solomoon - “He is a lovely little horse who has been training well, We thought we'd give him a shot in the novice and see if we can pick up a piece of it.”
Entries for Colonial Downs on Friday, August 4th
We're set for three hurdle races this Friday after last week's meet was canceled due to excessive heat.
The first race going to post at 11:45am is a $40,000 Maiden hurdle, stretching over 2 miles and 1/4F.
All eyes will be on the jumping newcomer, Abaan.
Abaan, under the watchful eyes of trainer Todd Pletcher, was very classy on the flat. His victories include a notable win at the grade 3 W.L McKnight Stakes at Gulfstream in 2022. He even competed against renowned stayers like Yabir and Gufo in Belmont Park's Grade 1 Man o’ War Stakes. With over $440,000 in winnings on the flat, Abaan has the potential to make a name for himself over jumps.
Trainer Kate Dalton on Abaan, “He is a very classy horse (as you would expect). He is smart and seems to be enjoying the jumping. We are big believers in horses’ thinking that jumping is fun and that is what we hoped for with Abaan. Truthfully, we don’t have “expectations”- we think he will head out expecting a normal flat race and we are hoping that he is pleasantly surprised when he finds out that this is not the case. First time out I would just like to see the horse and jockey have a clean trip and for both to be smiling after the finish.”
Certainly, one to watch!
The second race on the cards is a Rating Handicap Hurdle going 2 miles and 1/4F.
This race sees the seasonal debut of Keri Brion’s Baltimore Kid. Baltimore Kid broke his maiden in fine style at Great Meadow and finished 4th in the prestigious Foxbrook Champion Hurdle Stakes at Far Hills last October, chasing home the likes of Ted Hastings and Howyabud. Trainer Keri Brion noted he will be “much better suited returning to a left-handed track.”
The card's third and final jump race is a $40,000 Maiden for Fillies and Mares.
Remember the race on July 14th? Five of those runners are back again. We also have three new shooters - Fox Force Five, Tanka Tough, and Bourbon Diversion. Who could forget Mell Boucher's unforgettable performance on Lacey Underall in the previous race? She almost went over the horse's head at the second last hurdle but somehow hung on and got Lacey up for second place! I’m sure she's hoping for a less wild ride this time out.
Good Luck to all!
Wednesday’s Saratoga Recap
By Sean Clancy
“You know how it is when you have the best horse, you’re are hoping nothing goes wrong” - Arch Kingsley Jr, trainer of L’Imperator.
Link to the original article - Thisishorseracing.com
Prayers and well wishes from the entire Steeplechasing community go out to jockey Barry John Foley, who was injured in a fall yesterday.
We ask that you keep Barry and his family in your thoughts as he heals from his injuries.
Tickets are now on Sale for the 69th Virginia Fall Races on October 14th, 2023
Open Ticketing for the 69th 2023 Virginia Fall Races started Monday, July 31!
Experience the annual fall tradition in the lovely Middleburg hunt country at The Virginia Fall Races, where your only interruption to a relaxing day will be the cheer of 10,000 excited fans and the storming of thundering hooves! Take part in The National Steeplechase Association's (NSA) 128th year and 69th running of the Virginia Fall Races on Saturday, October 14, 2023.
Come sense the history while watching steeplechase action at the oldest continuous race course in the state of Virginia. Glenwood Park and the rolling race course on its grounds sits amongst the lush hunt country one mile off Route 50 in Middleburg. The 112-acre park was established in 1911 and is maintained today by a private trust left to the people of Virginia by the late Mr. Daniel C. Sands, a local fox hunter and avid sportsman.
This year's running promises to be one of the leading meets on the 2023 Fall Steeplechase Circuit. The day starts at 9:00 A.M. with the Theodora A. Randolph Field Hunter Championship Finals. The flag drops for the first race of the day at 12:30 P.M. with an afternoon of first-class timber and hurdle racing.
Highlighting this year's meet is the National Sporting Library and Museum Cup with its purse of $30,000, which brings the best-seasoned timber horses to run over the famous Glenwood course against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
For more information on how to purchase tickets visit them on Facebook or visit this link for complete ticket information.
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Check back on Saturday for more USA Steeplechase news and insights!
Steve
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