DASH Stable's Ice It, right, won the 2017 Queen's Cup MPC 'Chase. (Tod Marks photo)
DASH Stable’s Ice It, second in the last two editions of the $75,000 Aflac Supreme Hurdle, prevailed by a head over stablemate Gibralfaro in the Steeplechase at Callaway’s signature race on Saturday.
Sean McDermott, aboard second finisher Gibralfaro, claimed foul, alleging interference at the fourth from last fence, but Callaway’s stewards disallowed the claim. Gillian Johnston’s Set to Music finished third, three lengths behind Gibralfaro.
Carrington Holdings’ Boss Man, who had set the early pace with Gibralfaro, finished fourth. Darren Nagle kept Ice It at the back of the field before launching his bid on the final circuit of the Pine Mountain, Ga., course.
Ice It and Riverdee Stable’s Gibralfaro are trained by Jack Fisher, who completed the hat trick after winning the previous two races on the Steeplechase at Callaway program. The three wins moved the Maryland-based horseman into the lead for the trainer title ahead of Ricky Hendriks.
The champion three-year-old of 2015, Ice It had most recently finished fourth behind winner Detroit Blues and Gibralfaro in a division of Far Hills’ Foxbrook Supreme Hurdle. His last previous win was in the 2017 Queen’s Cup MPC ’Chase, also for novices, or horses in their first seasons of racing over fences.
DASH Stable is the racing operation of Sheila Fisher, the trainer’s wife, and her late father, Rufus Williams, who died on Sept. 30.