Codrington College jumped a fence in the Iroquois Steeplechase's Mason Houghland Memorial in May. (Tod Marks photo)
Hudson River Farms’ Codrington College took the short way around Shawan Downs, made a bold move to the lead two fences from home, and held off Dolly Fisher’s Schoodic to win the $25,000 Brown Advisory Legacy Chase by a neck on Saturday.
Armata Stables’ Grand Manan, who had alternated with owner-trainer Billy Meister’s Dr. K’eogh on the lead for much of the Legacy Chase, finished third, six lengths behind Schoodic, in the featured timber race of the 19th annual Shawan Downs Races.
Trained by Jonathan Sheppard and ridden by Jack Doyle, Irish-bred Codrington College ran the Legacy Chase’s three miles over 17 fences in 6:13 2/5 on firm turf.
Doyle placed Codrington College on the inside and toward the back of the field as Archie Macauley took Meister-trained Grand Manan to the lead at the break, with Dr. K’eogh right behind him and Schoodic moving well in third.
Dr. K’eogh and rider John Brophy took the lead spot as the field crossed the finish post for the first time and held that position until he began to tire and Grand Manan moved to the lead again and Schoodic advanced under Hadden Frost.
Codrington College made his move inside the final quarter-mile and hurtled to the lead over the next to last timber fence. Schoodic continued gamely after the final fence and was gaining ground through the final yards.
Doyle pressed his mount to the finish line, and Codrington College held on stubbornly for the narrow victory.
The second-place finish was Schoodic’s first defeat over fences, and in the Iroquois Steeplechase’s Mason Houghland Memorial he had easily defeated Codrington College, who was third. A maiden-claiming winner over hurdles, Codrington College had easily won his maiden start over timber fences at the 2018 Queen’s Cup.