11/20/07
Last updated: 11/19/07 6:57 PM
‘Shirt’ bids Good Night to McDynamo in Colonial Cup
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Good Night Shirt, shown earlier this season at Keeneland, has likely inherited the mantle of champion steeplechaser
(Matt Wooley/Horsephotos.com) |
Sonny Via’s GOOD NIGHT SHIRT (Concern) spoiled the retirement party for
three-time steeplechase champion McDynamo (Dynaformer) by driving to a clear
victory in Sunday’s Colonial Cup Steeplechase (NSA-G1) at Springdale Race Course
in Camden, South Carolina. By summoning bottomless stamina and courage late,
Good Night Shirt most likely clinched the 2007 Eclipse Award as champion
steeplechaser.
Ridden by Willie Dowling, Good Night Shirt took the lead after less than a
mile and simply refused to quit running — he turned aside McDynamo’s challenge
on the sweeping final turn and then ran away from a gang of four in the stretch
to win by 2 1/4 lengths for trainer Jack Fisher. The winner covered the 2 3/4
miles and 17 fences in 5:19. Three Carat (Storm Broker) finished second with
Sovereign Duty (Kingmambo) third. McDynamo, bidding for a fourth win in the race
and fourth Eclipse Award, faltered late to finish sixth in the final start of
his stellar career.
Strong early, Good Night Shirt found a rhythm once he got in front.
“He went to the front and backed off, which made all the difference,” Dowling
said. “He took a couple of chances at fences, but they didn’t seem to bother
him. Turning for home, he still had some left. That’s a good feeling because
they were right there. What a great horse. He just galloped all the way to the
line.”
The six-year-old Good Night Shirt won for the third time in five starts this
year while racing exclusively in Grade 1 company. After just missing by a neck
to Mixed Up (Carnivalay) in the Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings (NSA-G1) at
Keeneland, Good Night Shirt captured the Iroquois Hurdle S. (NSA-G1) and
Lonesome Glory Hurdle S. (NSA-G1). He was coming off a fourth to McDynamo in the
Breeders’ Cup Grand National Steeplechase (NSA-G1).
Good Night Shirt’s $314,163 in earnings are a single-season National
Steeplechase Association record. The Maryland-bred won two of three meetings
with McDynamo, champion in 2003, 2005 and 2006, this year.
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McDynamo retires sound with a record $1.3 million in career earnings from 15
wins in 25 lifetime starts over jumps for owner Michael Moran and trainer Sanna
Hendriks. The 10-year-old won five consecutive Breeders’ Cup Grand National
Steeplechase races.
“I’m happy to retire him, and proud to own him,” Moran said. “There were so
many years where we felt that degree of confidence because he’s so good, but now
as he’s gotten older, it’s not that your not confident in the horse, but you’re
not confident in the decision you’re making. It would be greedy to ask him to do
more. He’s been so good to everybody that I wouldn’t want anything to happen to
him.”
Sunday wrapped up the NSA season, with individual championships going to
trainer Jack Fisher (24 wins including a triple Sunday), jockey Xavier Aizpuru
(22 wins, including two Sunday) and owner Sonny Via (who won two races Sunday to
surpass Bill Pape’s total by less than $1,500).
