'Jump' Newsletter - Edition 9
'Jump' Newsletter - Edition 9
"We feel very confident right now that racing will be back on Memorial Day weekend in 2024" - Terry Hasseltine, President of the Sport Corporation of Maryland (SECMD) discussing Fair Hill.
Welcome to the ninth edition of 'Jump.'
Are you a fan of Jump? Know someone else who might enjoy our content? Don't hesitate to share! We cover everything from jockey profiles to race recaps, offering something for every jump racing enthusiast.
Sharing is simple and helps us grow - allowing us to keep delivering the content you love. So, spread the word about Jump and help us build a community celebrating the thrill of jump racing. Thank you for your support!
If you have any articles or topics to share, send us a link at usasteeplechase@gmail.com.
Riders up
Steve Coxon - USASteeplechase
In Case You Missed It: This Week's Top 5 USA Jump Racing Stories
Contents
Colonial Downs Review - Animal Kingston gives Watters a riding double
Saratoga Preview - Noah And The Ark takes on nine rivals in G1 Jonathan Sheppard
Terry Hasseltine - Talks Racing at Fair Hill, and Goals for the Future
American Jockey Elizabeth wins in Ireland
News - Graham Watters and Harrison Bewick tied at the top!
“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)
Bourbon Diversion goes wire to wire in the filly and mare hurdle
By Tod Marks
Bourbon Diversion goes wire to wire in the filly and mare hurdle
PICTURED: File photo of Bourbon Diversion (3) at the Virginia Gold Cup Races in May
Carrington Holdings' Bourbon Diversion, a four-year-old daughter of Bellamy Road, snatched the lead shortly after the break, controlled the pace, and held off Bonnie Rye Stable's Afraid Not to score in the $40,000 filly and mare hurdle at 2 1/4 miles.
Ridden by Tom Garner for trainer Arch Kingsley, the New York-bred, making her third start over jumps, quickly extended her advantage to as much as eight lengths heading up the backside the first time around the course. Afraid Not (Gerard Galligan) sat in second, with the rest of the field close behind.
There was little change in position throughout the race, as Bourbon Diversion maintained a lead of about five lengths with three-sixteenths of a mile to go. As the leader rounded the far turn the final time, Afraid Not inched closer, gradually gaining ground and shrinking the lead to about three lengths with a furlong remaining. Afraid Not continued narrow the gap, but fell a length short of Bourbon Diversion at the wire. Atlantic Friends Racing's Lacey Underall (Mell Boucher) was another 4 1/2 lengths back in third.
Animal Kingston gives Watters a riding double
By Tod Marks
William Russell's Animal Kingston made a late charge to overtake a determined Ancient Times in the $35,000 overnight handicap for horses rated at 115 or less. The margin of victory was about three-quarters of a length.
PICTURED: File photo of Animal Kingston, Graham Watters, and Neil Morris.
Ridden by Graham Watters for trainer Neil Morris, Animal Kingston -- along with three other starters -- found themselves far back of the leader, Carrington Holdings' Ancient Times (Conor Tierney) for most of the 2 1/4 miles.
Ancient Times broke on top and extended his lead to around 20 lengths, and carried that advantage into the stretch. Rounding the far turn the final time it looked as if Animal Kingston and Jacqueline Ohrstrom's Tease and Seize (Mell Boucher) would zoom past the tiring leader -- whose fizzle was colorfully described by the racecaller as "evaporating like a snow cone in Virginia." But Ancient Times, despite setting all of the fractions, dug in gamely as Animal Kingston drew alongside, and still maintained a slight lead with 100 yards to go. It was only in the final few strides that Animal Kingston passed his foe to give Watters the victory in today's first two of three jump races. Tease and Seize finished third.
Animal Kingston, an eight-year-old son of Animal Kingdom, has had a long and successful career on the flat and over jumps. This was his seventh career victory -- along with 18 other in-the-money performances -- in 40 starts.
Aftermath breaks maiden with late move in $40,000 opener
We haven't seen many Arrogates over jumps, but an NSA newcomer with the late stallion's bloodlines put in a late move under Graham Watters to take today's maiden special weights hurdle for four-year-olds, the first of three steeplechase races on the Colonial Card.
By Tod Marks
PICTURED: File photo of Aftermath at the Queen's Cup Races.
A field of eight faced starter Harrison Young, and it was Leipers Fork Steeplechasers' Garrison Forest, with Robbie Dunne, who took the lead and held it for much of the 2 1/4-mile contest. Though the field was never spread out by more than five or so lengths, Garrison Forest was determined to show the way, and repelled multiple challenges by Del Rio Racing's Tiger to Remember (Bernie Dalton), who stalked in second throughout and secured the advantage turning for home the final time.
Several horses made a late move into the stretch, but navigating into the straightaway became more challenging as loose horse Travesuras headed the field, causing potential traffic problems. But it was Daniel Baker's Aftermath, trained by Mark Beecher and making only his second try over hurdles, who took command with a sixteenth of a mile to go and coasted clear by a length. Tiger to Remember held the place spot with Gill Johnston's Active Duty (Tom Garner) third.
For Aftermath, who made his NSA debut in a maiden claimer at the Queen's Cup in late April, it was his third career victory in 25 starts. Most of those previous starts came at Laurel and Turfway Park.
You can check out all of Tod’s wonderful photos at www.todmarks.photoshelter.com
Noah And The Ark takes on nine rivals in G1 Jonathan Sheppard
by Mary Eddy
Keystone Thoroughbreds’ graded stakes-winner Noah And The Ark will carry a field-high 158 pounds as he attempts to double up on Grade 1 scores in Wednesday’s $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard, a 2 3/8-mile hurdle test for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Todd McKenna, the 9-year-old son of Vinnie Roe notched the biggest win of his career in September when taking the 2 1/2-mile Grade 1 Lonesome Glory Handicap at Belmont at the Big A at odds of 41-1 with an off-the-pace trip under regular pilot Harrison Beswick.
“It was a shock to me and it was a shock to the bettors,” said McKenna, with a laugh. “He’s a beautiful horse and he came over to America with five wins [in England], so to have wins over there before arriving here was a good thing. We did have high hopes for him, it was just a tough time getting to that spot.”
Noah And The Ark followed with a distant runner-up effort to Hewick in the Grade 1 Grand National at Far Hills over yielding footing to close out his 8-year-old campaign. He returned this year in the Grade 1 Iroquois at Percy Warner where he finished a fading fifth after stalking the pace in the three-mile test for older horses.
The chestnut gelding arrives from a closing fourth in the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Handicap on July 19 at the Spa where he tracked in last-of-9 throughout before putting in a mild bid at the 1 3/4-mile call and improving to finish fourth 13 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Belfast Banter.
McKenna said some pre-race antics contributed to Noah And The Ark being farther back than usual in the Smithwick, and that he expects Beswick to be a bit more aggressive on Wednesday.
“He was able to get Harry off his back in the paddock,” said McKenna. “He’s a funny horse in that sense and he can throw a tantrum, but when it comes to doing business, he’s professional. But Harry thought he was going to be really keen, so he dropped him out thinking that he would fight his way up closer, and the exact opposite happened. By the time he gathered him up to go, it was a little too late. I would expect him to be more handy this race.”
McKenna said he has been getting on Noah And The Ark in the mornings and that he shows eagerness in his training.
Terry Hasseltine - Talks Racing at Fair Hill and Goals for the Future
The Bugle sat down with Terry Hasseltine, President of the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland (SECMD), the owner, operator and manager of the popular international equestrian event.
The Bugle: We understand that in addition to the MARS Maryland 5 Star, the SECMD will be responsible for bringing racing back to Fair Hill. Can you update us on those efforts?
Hasseltine: Sure. We’ve been in conversations with the Fair Hill Foundation about implementing and getting racing back on track. It’s a matter of some things with the facility and some timing of implementing that process. We feel very confident right now that racing will be back on Memorial Day weekend in 2024. We tried to put something together for going into Labor Day of this year, but we just realized we were up against a timeline that wouldn’t work for a September boutique meet. So we’re going to turn our energy right after this
year’s Maryland 5 Star to focus on getting racing back up and happening for the traditional Memorial Day dates. We’ll be working with the Racing Commission and others to make sure that we can really put together a racing card that people would really want to come up to see for a few days, including steeplechasing, timber, and flat racing in a festival of racing over the Memorial Day Weekend.
To read the entire article, click here
American Jockey Elizabeth Scully wins at Ireland's Longines Fegentri World Championship!
American jockey Elizabeth Scully stormed to victory at the Longines Fegentri World Championship Mixed Race in Leopardstown, Ireland. Aboard Michael Mulvaney's , Barnacullia, she sailed home with an easy 3.5-length win!
Did she rest on her laurels? No way! After her triumph in the Emerald Isle, she was back in the saddle and off to Belgium in a flash. Next up? The Longines Fegentri World Championship for Lady and Gentlemen Riders at Ostende.
Good luck, Elizabeth!
News - Graham Watters and Harrison Bewick tied at the top!
Yesterday, the 2023 Jockey Standings heated up as Graham Watters won his first races since returning from injury, seizing two victories at Colonial Downs. He first claimed the Maiden Hurdle riding Mark Beecher's Aftermatch, then followed it up by winning the Handicap Hurdle aboard Neil Morris's Animal Kingston. These back-to-back wins have catapulted him to tie for the top position with Harrison Bewick, both jockeys now boasting 10 wins apiece.
Check back next Sunday for more USA Steeplechase news and insights!
Steve
@USASteeplechase - Twitter, Facebook and Instagram