Brion Saddles Four Starters For Race Named For Mentor Sheppard

Trainer Keri Brion will hold a strong hand in a prestigious stakes that bears the name of her long-time mentor, saddling half of the eight-horse field in Wednesday's $150,000 Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard in a 2 3/8-mile steeplechase contest at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The 80th edition of the race formerly known as the New York Turf Writers Cup will be run for the first time under its new name, which honors the Hall of Fame trainer who won this race 15 times and trained at least one winner at Saratoga every consecutive year from 1969-2015. It will be the opener of Wednesday's 10-race card with a 1:05 p.m. Eastern post time.

Brion, a longtime assistant to Sheppard, took over the training responsibilities for many of his horses upon his retirement and has started to carve out her own reputation, saddling the top-two finishers of the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick on July 22 at Saratoga when Baltimore Bucko and French Light ran 1-2 going 2 1/16 miles in the first Grade 1 hurdle race of the meet. In addition to that stellar pair, Brion will also send out The Mean Queen and A Silent Prayer.

“It's incredible that it shaped up the way it has with having half the field,” Brion said with a laugh. “When I heard the race was renamed, I was actually still in Ireland and I said to myself I was just hoping I would have a horse for that race. Now, I'm sitting here really hoping I win the race. It would mean a lot for me but I would love to win it for owners who were so supportive of Jonathan for so many years. Everything I know about steeplechase racing came from Jonathan, so it would obviously mean a lot to me to do it.”

Buttonwood Farm's Baltimore Bucko topped his stablemate by 5 3/4 lengths last out, building on his runner-up effort going 2 1/4 miles in the Green Pastures at the Nashville-based Percy Warner in June.

“It's amazing how fast he's come through the ranks,” Brion said. “I had both of these horses [French Light] in Ireland with me over the winter and they ran over there, so they have that added experience, which I think helped bring them along a lot quicker than maybe some others.”

Baltimore Bucko, a 5-year-old gelding, will now carry the high weight of 156 pounds with Richard Condon set to ride from post 3.

Irvin Naylor's French Light, carrying 152 pounds, will be looking to build on his stellar effort in his graded stakes debut, drawing post 4 with Jamie Bargary on the call.

“They went from being bottom weight end to being top weight and second top weight, so that changes things a little,” Brion said. “But the way they were first and second, you'd like to believe the weight shouldn't bother them too much.”

French Light raced five times for Brion in Ireland to start his 6-year-old campaign before making a statement in his return to North America. Brion said that race last month has only expediated his progress.

“His first race back in the states was the Smithwick, so I think he has a lot of improvement in him, just having that run in him,” Brion said.

The Mean Queen, also owned by Buttonwood Farm, appeared on her way to beating the boys before unseating rider Thomas Garner in deep stretch in the Jonathan Kiser Novice on July 28 at Saratoga.

The 5-year-old Doyen mare has already helped Brion accomplish something unprecedented when she captured the Slaney River Hurdle in April in Ireland, making her conditioner the first U.S. trainer to win a hurdle race in the country. She will re-team with Garner again, carrying 147 pounds from post 6.

“She made history for me,” Brion said. “She wasn't the winner of the novice stake, but she was by far the best in that race. There wasn't really anywhere else for her to run until September. She's doing really well. Her name fits her very well; she isn't easy to train, so it's easier just to run her. But she gets some weight off the boys and she's in a good spot. I think she's in with a shot as well.”

A Silent Player, also owned by Naylor, was fifth in the Jonathan Kiser last out in his stakes bow and will carry the co-field-low weight of 142 pounds with Barry Foley set to ride from post 5.

“He suffered an injury to his hind leg in his win in November, so his run back last time was his first time since his injury,” Brion said. “It's a lot harder to have a horse ready to go in Saratoga off an injury. He had to rehab off it, so I think he will be much improved this time around. He's pretty similar to Baltimore Bucko, to be honest. He's the bottom weight at 142, and I think that will really help. I think he'll run a lot better than he did in his last start.”

Hall of Famer Jack Fisher will send out two contenders in City Dreamer and Gibralfaro from posts 1 and 2, respectively.

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Riverdee Stable's City Dreamer ran second to Bodes Well in the Jonathan Kiser Novice and will step up to graded stakes company for the first time, carrying 146 pounds with Parker Hendriks in the irons.

His stablemate, the Riverdee-owned Gibralfaro was third last out in the A.P. Smithwick and will be competing in the Jonathan Sheppard for the third consecutive time, running fourth last year following a runner-up effort to Winston C in the 2019 edition. Gibralfaro will carry 148 pounds and have the services of rider Graham Watters.

Sharon Sheppard's Redicean, second in this stakes last year, two lengths back to winner Rashaan, returned off an 11-month layoff to run fourth in the A.P. Smithwick for trainer Leslie Young. After knocking off the rust, the 7-year-old British bred will break from post 8 carrying 150 pounds with Gerard Galligan aboard.

Half Married Syndicate's Recent Revelations made his first 23 starts in Europe and will look to make his mark in his North American debut, carrying 142 pounds in drawing post 7 with Harrison Beswick up.

Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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New York Turf Writers Cup Renamed In Honor Of Hall Of Famer Jonathan Sheppard

The New York Racing Association, Inc. [NYRA] announced today the renaming of the New York Turf Writers Cup steeplechase stakes in honor of Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard.

The Grade 1, $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard for 4-year-olds and up going 2 3/8 miles is slated for Thursday, Aug. 19 during the summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course. What was known previously as the New York Turf Writers Cup is one of two Grade 1 steeplechase races on the Saratoga docket, along with the $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial set for Thursday, July 22.

“It seems fitting that one of the premier steeplechase stakes in the country is going to be named in honor of Jonathan Sheppard,” said Bill Gallo, Director of Racing for the National Steeplechase Association. “He has been the dominant force in American steeplechase racing for decades and has always represented the sport in a positive way, particularly at Saratoga, where his success has gained national attention. We thank NYRA and the New York Turf Writers for honoring Jonathan in this fashion.”

The 80-year-old Sheppard announced his retirement from American racing in early January. He capped an incredible 56-year racing career in which he was the leading National Steeplechase Association trainer 26 times, campaigning 15 Eclipse award winners over hurdles and flat ground.

Sheppard made an indelible mark on New York racing, winning at least one race at Saratoga for 47 consecutive years from 1969-2015. He was also the leading Saratoga trainer in 1984 and 1985. Fittingly, Sheppard earned a reputation for dominating the New York Turf Writers Cup, figuratively stamping his name on a race he won 15 times before the announcement that his name will literally be synonymous with the contest.

“Jonathan Sheppard's long and storied career, in particular his accomplishments at Saratoga Race Course, will be remembered for years to come,” said NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke. “His decades of commitment and success within the sport make this a well-deserved honor. It's only fitting that he is celebrated with a stakes race at the Spa in light of his unprecedented streak of 47 years with at least one winner at Saratoga.”

The Ashwell, England native is the winningest trainer in U.S. jump racing-history and is one of only two trainers to win championships with both flat and jump horses. Equibase credits him with a career ledger of 3,426 wins with 3,099 runner-up efforts and 2,975 third-place finishes in 20,997 starts with earnings of more than $88 million.

Sheppard, an 11-time Colonial Cup winner, trained 15 Eclipse Award champions: Athenian Idol (1973); Cafe Prince (1977-78): Martie's Anger (1979); Flatterer (1983-86); Jimmy Lorenzo (1988); Highland Bud (1989); Forever Together (2008); Informed Decision (2009); Mixed Up (2009); Divine Fortune (2013); and Winston C (2019).

In flat races, Sheppard produced impressive winners as well, with Informed Decision winning the 2009 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and Forever Together capturing the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf the year prior.

A 1990 Hall of Fame inductee, Sheppard continued building on a historic legacy for the next three decades. In his final year of training in 2020, Sheppard finished atop the NSA trainer standings, besting runner-up Jack Fisher, who had been the leading trainer nine years running.

Sheppard last won the New York Turf Writers Cup with Winston C in 2019.

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New York Turf Writers Cup Renamed in Honor of Hall of Fame Trainer Jonathan Sheppard

The GI New York Turf Writers Cup steeplechase stakes has been renamed in honor of Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, the New York Racing Association announced Friday.

The $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard for 4-year-olds and up going 2 3/8 miles is slated for Thursday, Aug. 19 during the summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course.

“It seems fitting that one of the premier steeplechase stakes in the country is going to be named in honor of Jonathan Sheppard,” said Bill Gallo, Director of Racing for the National Steeplechase Association. “He has been the dominant force in American steeplechase racing for decades and has always represented the sport in a positive way, particularly at Saratoga, where his success has gained national attention. We thank NYRA and the New York Turf Writers for honoring Jonathan in this fashion.”

The 80-year-old Sheppard announced his retirement from American racing in early January. He capped an incredible 56-year racing career in which he was the leading National Steeplechase Association trainer 26 times, campaigning 15 Eclipse award winners over hurdles and flat ground.

Sheppard made an indelible mark on New York racing, winning at least one race at Saratoga for 47 consecutive years from 1969-2015. He was also the leading Saratoga trainer in 1984 and 1985. Fittingly, Sheppard earned a reputation for dominating the New York Turf Writers Cup, figuratively stamping his name on a race he won 15 times before the announcement that his name will literally be synonymous with the contest.

“Jonathan Sheppard's long and storied career, in particular his accomplishments at Saratoga Race Course, will be remembered for years to come,” said NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke. “His decades of commitment and success within the sport make this a well-deserved honor. It's only fitting that he is celebrated with a stakes race at the Spa in light of his unprecedented streak of 47 years with at least one winner at Saratoga.”

The Ashwell, England native is the winningest trainer in U.S. jump racing-history and is one of only two trainers to win championships with both flat and jump horses. Equibase credits him with a career ledger of 3,426 wins with 3,099 runner-up efforts and 2,975 third-place finishes in 20,997 starts with earnings of more than $88 million.

In flat races, Sheppard produced impressive winners as well, with Informed Decision winning the 2009 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and Forever Together capturing the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf the year prior.

A 1990 Hall of Fame inductee, Sheppard continued building on a historic legacy for the next three decades. In his final year of training in 2020, Sheppard finished atop the NSA trainer standings, besting runner-up Jack Fisher, who had been the leading trainer nine years running.

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Rashaan Earns First North American Victory In New York Turf Writers Cup

Rashaan didn't arrive in the United States until his 7-year-old campaign in 2019. On Thursday, he proved to his connections that he was worth the wait, leading a six-horse field out of the final hurdles and fending off stablemate Redicean's stretch-drive push to win the Grade 1, $100,000 New York Turf Writers Cup steeplechase in the card's opener at Saratoga Race Course.

Making just his fourth North American start, Rashaan won his first graded stakes and first since shipping from his native Ireland last year, posting a two-length score in the 2 3/8-mile race over the firm inner turf course.

Pravalaguna led the field and was still in command heading over the ninth and final hurdle with Rashaan tracking close in second under jockey Thomas Garner. Into the flat portion of the race, Rashaan overtook the pacesetter and was set down entering the stretch.

Straightening for home, Redicean, also trained by Young, made a bid to Rashaan's inside, but Garner kept his charge alert and they dueled in the final sixteenth before drawing away, posting a final time of 4:34.20.

Garner, who won the New York Turf Writers Cup for the second straight year after piloting the Jonathan Sheppard-trained Winston C in 2019, had his choice to ride either Rashaan and Redicean entering Thursday and said he doubted his selection only for a moment.

“The plan was to be handy with him,” Garner said. “He's a horse that's not easy at all. He has all the ability in the world, but it's only on his terms. Training him at home, if he doesn't want to train in the morning, he won't go anywhere. He's a real tricky one.

“The team did a great job with him,” he added. “I ride him every day. He's a happy horse and he really enjoyed his work. I came here hopeful rather than confident, I actually thought the better horse was Redicean and I'd made the wrong choice but he put his best foot forward. He's got so much ability and when he wants to do it, there's not a lot that will get by him.”

Owned by Bruton Street-US, Rashaan was a 13-time winner in Europe in a career that started in 2015. Trained by Leslie Young, he did not finish his first start in the country in the Grade 1 Grand National Hurdle on October 19 at Far Hills before running back seven days later to finish fifth in the Grade 2 David L. Ferguson Memorial Hurdle.

Off an eight-month break, Rashaan earned his first North American blacktype by running third in the Grade 3 Temple Gwathmey Hurdle on June 13 at Glenwood Park At Middleburg before earning a trip to the winner's circle in his Saratoga debut.

“Rashaan has all of the ability. He's won 13 races in Ireland and he was bred by the Aga Khan and is related well to serious flat horses,” Young said. “He had been training very well. We had a horse win last week and they all worked very well, but he was doing it very easily. I thought if he could just do this in a race without overthinking it.

Off at 8-1, Rashaan returned $18 on $2 win wager. He improved his career earnings to $358,687.

His stablemate, Redicean, was fourth in the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial on July 23 at Saratoga but finished 3 ¾ lengths clear of 8-5 Moscato for second. That marked Redicean's best finish in six starts, with his previous win coming at the Spa in last year's Jonathan Kiser Novice.

“Redicean had also been training very well and last time when he ran in the A.P. we got a little bit excited, and I think he likes to go on a little longer,” Young said. “We were hopeful going in today and we're happy it worked out.”

Gibralfaro, 8-5 favorite and defending New York Turf Writers Cup-winner Optimus Prime and Pravalaguna completed the order of finish. Belisarius and Zanjabeel scratched.

Live racing resumes Friday at Saratoga with a nine-race card that includes the Grade 1, $85,000 Skidmore for 2-year-olds in Race 3 going 5 ½ furlongs on turf at 2:20 p.m. First post is 1:10 p.m.

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