Sheppard perfect as owner in ’10
Jonathan Sheppard currently occupies the top spot in the National Steeplechase Association trainer standings, leading both by victories and by earnings. He also is prominent in the owner rankings, with a perfect record through the first three race meets of 2010.
With consecutive victories to close the Stoneybrook Steeplechase program at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, N.C., the English-born Racing Hall of Fame trainer ran his unbeaten streak as an owner to three. He won the $10,000 Centurylink Hurdle, a conditioned claiming race, with Sparkled, and then his rising star Italian Wedding drew away to a 3 1/4-length victory in the $20,000 Sandhills Cup, the featured race at the Stoneybrook meet.
Italian Wedding had won the James W. Maloney maiden hurdle at the season-opening Aiken Spring meet in South Carolina on March 20. Danielle Hodsdon has ridden his three winners, and the double at Stoneybrook moved the 2006 champion jockey atop the 2010 leader board, with four victories. She is the regular jockey of 209 Eclipse Award winner Mixed Up, who is owned by Bill Pape and trained by Sheppard.
