Outstanding field set for Breeders’ Cup
Steeplechase
A field of nine, including eight Grade 1 winners, has been
entered for the Saturday’s $175,000 Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase
(NSA-G1) at the Far Hills Races in Far Hills, New Jersey. The
13th running of the Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase, a 2 5/8-mile test
over 14 fences, highlights the richest day in United States
steeplechasing. Six other stakes races worth at least $50,000
each will be decided on the card, which begins at 1 p.m. (EDT).
MCDYNAMO (Dynaformer), last year’s Breeders’ Cup and Eclipse
Award winner, has won five consecutive races dating back to
October 2002 and is unbeaten in three starts at Far Hills.
However, the Sanna Hendriks trainee has been sidelined for 11
months to repair a fracture below his right hock. The
seven-year-old has run in two flat races to prepare for this
event, which he won last year by 15 1/4 lengths. Regular jockey
Craig Thornton will travel from New Zealand for the mount.
Other contenders include TRES TOUCHE (Poles Apart), winner of
the New York Turf Writers Cup (NSA-G1) at Saratoga, and FLAT TOP
(Alleged), a two-time steeplechase champion and winner of the
2002 Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase.
Irish trainer Dermot Weld will saddle ANSAR (Ire) (Kahyasi),
who comes off a score in the Grade 1 Galway Plate Steeplechase.
The eight-year-old sports a 5-for-11 mark over jumps and placed
sixth in the 2002 English Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. David
Chase, who was aboard for the Galway win, has the call.
The field, in post position order, with jockeys, is Flat Top,
Rob Massey; HIRAPOUR (Ire) (Kahyasi), Matt McCarron; Ansar;
McDynamo; Tres Touche, David Bentley; SUR LA TETE (Sky Classic),
Chris Read; PELAGOS (Fr) (Exit to Nowhere), Chip Miller;
PREEMPTIVE STRIKE (Roanoke), Robbie Walsh; and POPULAR GIGALO
(Eastern Echo), Miller on a double call.
All starters will carry 156 pounds.