Month: August 2022

Bruton Street-US's evergreen steeplechase specialist Snap Decision will return to racing over the hurdles in Wednesday's Grade 1, $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard, a handicap for 4-year-olds and up traveling 2 3/8 miles at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Jack Fisher, Snap Decision was seen on the flat for the first time since 2018 last out when finishing third in the 1 1/2-mile Colonial Cup on July 27 at Colonial Downs. There, he tracked 2 1/2 lengths off the pace before shuffling through traffic and putting in a bid at the stretch call, running on to finish just 1 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Red Knight and a head behind second-place finisher Another Mystery. He defeated a slew of accomplished rivals that included this year's Grade 3 Louisville winner Cellist.

Fisher said he entered Snap Decision in the Sheppard to have options and will also look at the $135,000 John's Call on August 24 on the flat at the Spa and the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory over hurdles this fall during the Belmont at the Big A meet.

“He was third and got boxed in on the turn at Colonial. He ran great,” Fisher said. “There was one horse in there that was a bear [Cellist] but that horse didn't show up. It was a prep for the Sheppard, and if we don't run there, the John's Call and then the Lonesome Glory.”

Snap Decision's return to the flat came nearly four years after finding another dimension as a steeplechaser when transferred to Fisher from the care of Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey. His last race on the flat for McGaughey was an even third-place finish in an optional claimer in November 2018 at Aqueduct Racetrack. In 16 starts since then, the son of Hard Spun has never finished off the board and posted a nine-race win streak from July 2019 to June 2021 that was capped by a Grade 1 triumph in last year's Iroquois at Percy Warner.

He followed his Iroquois score with a trio of runner-up finishes in the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory at Belmont Park, the Grade 1 Grand National at Far Hills and the Grade 2 Temple Gwathmey at Middleburg before successfully defending his Iroquois title this May one start before his return to the flat.

“He's flourished as he won nine in a row last year and he was a nice flat horse, he just wasn't a stakes level flat horse,” said Fisher. “He was always great over the jumps. He's a fabulous horse. It's nothing I did, he's just a great horse.”

Carrying a field-high 164 pounds, Snap Decision will start from post 6 with Graham Watters aboard.

Trainer Keri Brion will look to repeat in this event after conditioning The Mean Queen to victory in a campaign that would earn her the Eclipse Award for Champion Steeplechase Horse last year.

Brion will have two chances with Going Country, whom she co-owns with Blue Streak Racing, Metahorse Racing and CFC Stables; and Atlantic Friends Racing's Historic Heart.

Going Country will make a big step up on short rest from a closing third-place effort in the Jonathan Kiser Memorial on August 3 at the Spa where he struggled to jump throughout before finally getting over the last three fences well and making up ground late to finish 4 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Howyabud.

“I'm taking a chance with the horse who ran in the novice. It was uncharacteristic of him and he struggled over the jumps,” said Brion. “If he would have jumped at all, he would have won the race.”

Going Country, who adds cheek pieces, will stretch out from the 2 1/16-mile Jonathan Kiser to run at the 2 3/8 distance for the first time since finishing second in a maiden at Montpelier last year, something Brion said should suit him.

“I don't know why he didn't jump, but added distance helps. He made up so much ground, so you can't discount him,” said Brion. “He's a little inexperienced, and it was his first time at Saratoga and first start since Nashville, so I'll forgive him. It's worth a shot.”

A 6-year-old son of Yeats, the late-blooming Going Country began his career last year with Brion and had two starts before returning this year to break his maiden at Tryon in his third outing on April 16. He followed with a one-length allowance score just one week later at Middleburg before a did-not-finish in the Grade 2 David Semmes Memorial and a closing third in the Green Pastures in May at Percy Warner.

Last out, Going Country carried 153 pounds, but will lose 13 pounds as he has been assigned the field-low of 140 with jockey Danny Mullins slated to ride for the first time from post 4.

“He gets in at 13 pounds [less],” said Brion. “Weight was dependent on if we ran against Snap Decision or not, but the weight makes me want to give it a chance.”

Brion's other entrant, Historic Heart, was last seen finishing an even fourth in the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial on July 20 at the Spa behind returning rival Down Royal. There, he tracked in fourth for the first 1 1/2 miles before losing some position in at the 1 3/4-mile call. He battled back to wind up fourth, defeated 8 1/2 lengths under returning rider Parker Hendriks.

“I just didn't have him fit into his last race, and he needed the race,” said Brion. “If he runs back to what I think he is, he should be right there.”

Historic Heart started his career in England with trainer Nigel Hawke where he earned his first stakes placing in the 2020 Scottish Triumph Hurdle at Musselburgh. In his first start for Brion, he won the Harry Harris in October at Far Hills before closing out the year with a runner-up finish in the Aflac Supreme Hurdle at Pine Mountain.

This year, Historic Heart won his seasonal bow in the Carolina Cup in April at Camden before being eased in the Grade 1 Iroquois in May at Percy Warner. He returned with his Smithwick effort two months later.

“I thought he'd win the Smithwick and he was very tired,” Brion said. “It was hot that day and he's better than what he showed. He's fresh at home and happy. He gets a nice weight and Parker stays on him, which was his choice. The distance suits him.”

The son of Fracas drew post 8 and was assigned 144 pounds.

The lone mare in the field, Down Royal, will look for her second Grade 1 triumph of the Saratoga meet after upsetting the A.P. Smithwick for the first top-level victory of her career. A New York-bred 8-year-old daughter of Alphabet Soup, Down Royal also boasts stakes victories in the Margaret Currey Henley Hurdle earlier this year at Percy Warner, the Randolph D. Rouse at Colonial Downs and Peapack Hurdle at Far Hills last year.

A homebred for trainer Kate Dalton and jockey Bernard Dalton, Down Royal has amassed $277,474 in earnings with a record of 6-6-2 from 23 lifetime starts, 19 of them over jumps. Owned by Shadowfax Stable, Down Royal drew post 1 [143 pounds] with Dalton aboard again.

Completing the field are multiple stakes-winners Belfast Banter [post 2, Jamie Bargary, 146 pounds] and Song for Someone [post 3, Thomas Garner, 153 pounds]; Grade 2-winner Redicean [post 5, 142 pounds]; and A.P. Smithwick runner-up Chief Justice [post 7, Barry Foley, 144 pounds].

The Jonathan Sheppard, named for the Hall of Fame trainer who won at least one race at Saratoga each year from 1968 to 2015, is slated as Race 1 on Wednesday's 10-race program, which also features the $150,000 NYSSS Cab Calloway in Race 9. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present daily coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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Many of the top contenders in this year's Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships Series (MATCH) will face a host of talented newcomers as Colonial Downs offers four $150,000 stakes representing all series divisions Tuesday, Aug. 16. The MATCH stakes, which attracted a total of 46 entries, are part of a strong nine-race program with total purses of $930,000.

Colonial Downs returned to the MATCH Series last year when all divisions were on the dirt because the series stretched through late December. This year's stakes are the 1 1/8-mile Buckland (3-Year-Olds and Up Long—Turf division), 1 1/16-mile Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Old Nelson (Filly and Mare Long—Turf division), seven-furlong Seeking the Pearl (Filly and Mare Sprint—Dirt division) and six-furlong Chesapeake (3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint—Dirt division).

Post time for the first race is 1:45 p.m. The MATCH Series stakes are races 4, 6, 7 and 8.

Buckland Stakes

Mark Grier's Eons, who is two-for-two in MATCH competition this year and leads his division with 20 points, had one win in 2021 and it came in the Buckland in his only start at Colonial. Trained by Arnaud Delacour with Trevor McCarthy named to ride, the 6-year-old Giant's Causeway horse in his last start finished second in the Prince George's County Stakes at Laurel Park but was placed first after English Tavern—also entered in the Buckland—was disqualified for interference and placed second.

Eons will become eligible for MATCH bonus money with a start in the Buckland, which attracted a field of 10, before the fifth and final leg at Parx Racing Oct. 3.

Runnymoore Racing's Beacon Hill, third in the MATCH standings with 8 points after two starts, finished sixth in the Prince George's County but one race prior finished only a nose behind Eons in the Bensalem Stakes at Parx Racing. The 5-year-old Blame gelding, to be ridden by Adam Beschizza for trainer Michael Matz, will be eligible for bonus money with a start in the Buckland.

HPG Thoroughbreds' King Vega, trained by Graham Motion and to be ridden by Angel Suarez, finished second in an allowance prep at Colonial in his last start and previously won an allowance test at Delaware Park. The 4-year-old Lope de Vega gelding competed in England last year and will make his first MATCH Series start.

TAA Old Nelson Stakes

Walter Pape's Deciding Vote has built her 2022 campaign around the MATCH Series for trainer Edward Graham, and the 5-year-old Mr. Speaker mare will seek to pad her lead in the Old Nelson, which lured a field of 13. Deciding Vote, to be ridden by Mychel Sanchez, won the Dahlia Stakes at Laurel to kick off the series, was a close fourth in the Neshaminy Stakes at Parx and rallied for second in the Big Dreyfus Stakes at Laurel in her last start.

Deciding Vote has 20 points and will pick up 5 bonus points with a start in the Old Nelson. In her only start at Colonial, Deciding Vote missed winning an allowance race on the grass by a nose last year.

Stuart Janney III's In a Hurry, second with 12 points after two series starts, has finished a neck and a half-length behind Deciding Vote. Forest Boyce has the call for trainer Shug McGaughey.

Parx-based Tic Tic Tic Boom, fourth in the standings with 9 points, also will earn 5 bonus points with a start in the Old Nelson. Jonathan Ocasio rides the 4-year-old Hit It a Bomb filly for owner Timory Ridall and trainer Alan Bedard, who has kept her in the hunt with an eye on the fifth and final leg of the division on her home turf course.

Seeking the Pearl Stakes

Stud Los Leones' Cheetara, winner of the 2021 Seeking the Pearl, is one of nine fillies and mares entered in a race that appears loaded with early speed. The 5-year-old Daddy Long Legs mare made her 2022 MATCH debut in the Alma North Stakes at Laurel in her last start and finished third behind Chub Wagon and Kaylasaurus after leading for three-eighths of a mile.

Vincent Cheminaud has the call on the Keeneland-based mare for trainer Ignacio Correas IV. Chub Wagon, undefeated in three MATCH Series starts over the last two years, was nominated but not entered. Division and overall series leader Kaylasaurus (22 points) is poised to make her fourth start in the series this year and will earn 5 bonus points with a start in the Seeking the Pearl.

Kaylasaurus, a 6-year-old Pennsylvania-bred mare owned by Bush Racing Stable, Liberty House Racing, BlackRidge Stables and George Saufley, is a consistent off-the-pace type with one win, three seconds and a third in six 2022 outings. Regular rider Horacio Karamanos, in a battle for the local riding title once again, will ride for trainer Tim Kreiser.

CJI Phoenix Group and No Guts No Glory Farm's Fille d'Esprit, second in the division with 12 points, will become eligible for bonus money in the Seeking the Pearl. Trained by John Robb with Xavier Perez named to ride, the 6-year-old Maryland-bred mare by Great Notion defeated Kaylasaurus in the Susquehanna Valley Stakes at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course but didn't fire her best shot in the Alma North after acting up in the starting gate.

Favoritism could fall to Columbine Stable's Caribbean Caper, who is undefeated in five starts, all of which came in 2021. Stabled at Saratoga Race Course with trainer Al Stall Jr., the 4-year-old Speightstown filly won her races, including the Grade III Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs, by a combined 24 lengths under Colby Hernandez, who has the mount.

Chesapeake Stakes

Just Might and Mucho, the one-two finishers in the 2021 Chesapeake, are among a full field of 14 entered in what appears on paper to be a wide-open affair.

Just Might, a 6-year-old Justin Phillip gelding owned by trainer Michell Lovell and Griffon Farms, finished an even fourth in a turf sprint stakes at Colonial Downs in his last start and returns to the local dirt. Hernandez has the call as Just Might will seek to reach the $1 million mark in career earnings.

Mucho, a 5-year-old Blame horse trained by John Ortiz for WSS Racing and 4 G Racing, will be ridden by Reylu Gutierrez, who was aboard last year at Colonial Downs. Mucho, a seven-time winner, finished second in the MATCH division last year behind the retired Laki.

Neither Just Might or Mucho will be eligible for bonus money this year with only one series leg remaining after Colonial Downs. Beren and Threes Over Deuces, first and second in the standings, are both entered in the Chesapeake.

St. Omer's Farm and Christopher Feifarek's Beren, trained by Butch Reid, was a strong winner of the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel last time out after a second-place finish in the Chocolatetown Stakes at Penn National. The 4-year-old Pennsylvania-bred by Weigelia will be eligible for bonus money with his next series start; Beren is also nominated for Pennsylvania-bred stakes scheduled for Aug. 22 at Parx, where he is based.

Pocket 3's Racing's Threes Over Deuces has amassed 10 points with a third, fourth and fifth in the first three legs of the MATCH Series and would collect 5 bonus points with a start in the Chesapeake. No rider was named at time of entry for the 7-year-old Flat Out gelding trained by Gary Capuano.

The MATCH Series originally debuted in 1997 and ran for five years. It returned with great success in 2018 and was held in 2019 and 2021. The innovative regional racing series—the only one of its kind in horse racing—combines rich stakes and bonuses for participating owners and trainers who compete over a five- to seven-month span. Horses competing in MATCH earn points based on participation and order of finish in each series race, and the leading point-earners in each of the series divisions, as well as the owner and trainer of the overall points leader, win lucrative bonuses.

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