Scorpiancer winning the Lonesome Glory Handicap (Gr. 1) last September. Tod Marks photo
The $50,000 Temple Gwathmey (Gr. 3), centerpiece of the Middleburg Spring meet, launches the National Steeplechase Association’s 2017 schedule of graded stakes races, and the 2 1/2-mile hurdle handicap drew an impressive group of nine nominees.
Champion trainer Jack Fisher will be looking to run the table with four candidates headed by Bruton Street-US’s Scorpiancer, winner of Belmont Park’s Lonesome Glory Handicap (Gr. 1) in September. The Irish-bred is second-rated among all NSA hurdle winners currently in training.
Edith Dixon’s homebred Schoodic won last spring’s National Hunt Cup (Gr. 3) at the Radnor Hunt Races in Pennsylvania but was unplaced in his final two starts of the year, in the Lonesome Glory and the International Gold Cup’s David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial (Gr. 2).
Maryland-based Fisher also nominated Gil Johnston’s Mr. Hot Stuff and Sonny Via’s Hinterland, both accomplished runners coming back from more than a year on the sidelines. Mr. Hot Stuff, a Grade 1 winner, won the 2015 Temple Gwathmey.
Arch Kingsley Jr. nominated Sue Sensor’s Top Striker, who won the Ferguson impressively and then defeated eventual Eclipse Award champion Rawnaq in the Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup (Gr. 1). The Van Nistelrooy gelding is third in the NSA ratings.
Trainer Ricky Hendriks nominated two contenders owned by George Mahoney’s Rosbrian Farm. Simenon won two hurdle races in Ireland last year and has a flat resume that includes fourth-place finishes in the Melbourne Cup (Aus-Gr. 1) and Ascot Gold Cup (Eng-Gr. 1).
Rosbrian’s Swansea Mile started April 8 in the Steeplechase of Charleston’s featured optional allowance hurdle and gave his trainer reason for optimism with a game second-place finish.
The Fields Stable’s Portrade, trained by Elizabeth Voss, broke into the ranks of Grade 1 winners with a front-running score in the New York Turf Writers Cup at Saratoga Race Course last August, and the Irish-bred subsequently finished third in the Ferguson.
Racing Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard nominated Parker’s Project, a multiple stakes winner owned by Edward Swyer’s Hudson River Farms. Parker’s Project finished fifth in the Colonial Cup in his most recent start.
Here are the nine nominees to the $50,000 Temple Gwathmey (Gr. 3). The horses’ National Steeplechase Association ratings are in parentheses at the end of their profiles.
Hinterland (Fr). 2008 b. g., Poliglote (GB)—Queen Palace, by Diamond Prospect. wner: Harold A. Via Jr. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Breeders: Eric Aubree and Christian Bresson (Fr). 2016 NSA record: No starts. Coming back after missing 2016 season. Listed stakes winner in England began U.S. career with seventh in 2015 New York Turf Writers Cup (Gr. 1) and then was second in Lonesome Glory Handicap (Gr. 1) (138)
Mr. Hot Stuff. 2006 dk. b. or br. g., Tiznow—Sweet Damsel, by Turkoman. Owner: Gil Johnston. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Breeder: WinStar Farm (Ky.) 2016 record: No starts. Coming back after missing 2016 season. Won 2015 Temple Gwathmey (Gr. 3) at Middleburg Spring and then was second in the Calvin Houghland Iroquois (Gr. 1) Won the 2013 A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1) at Saratoga. (147)
Parker’s Project. 2006 dk. b. or br. g., Parker’s Storm Cat—Let’s Canoodle, by Oh Say. Owner: Hudson River Farms. Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard. Breeder: Jonathan Sheppard (Pa.) 2016 record: 3-0-1-0, $12,300. 2015 record: 2-1-0-1, $50,000. Finished second in Montpelier’s 2016 Noel Laing Handicap before fifth in Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup (Gr. 1). Won Virginia Gold Cup’s 2015 David Semmes Memorial (Gr. 2), then was third in Radnor’s National Hunt Cup (Gr. 3). In first start in more than two years, closed well to finish second in Belmont Park’s 2014 Lonesome Glory Handicap (Gr. 1), then finished third in Grand National (Gr. 1). (131).
Portrade (Ire). 2009 b. g., Trade Fair (GB)—Portorosa, by Irish River (Fr). Owner: The Fields Stable. Trainer: Elizabeth Voss. Breeder: Keene Bloodstock (Ire). 2016 record: 4-1-0-2, $111,800. 2015 record: 2-0-0-0, $2,500. 2014 NSA record: No starts. Won the 2016 New York Turf Writers (Gr. 1) after setting all the pace, then was third in David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial (Gr. 2) at International Gold Cup. Finished third in Saratoga’s A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1). Opened 2016 with fifth in Fair Hill’s Valentine Memorial Ratings Handicap. In final 2014 starts in Ireland, won Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Listowel and then was second in a handicap hurdle at Tipperary. (129)
Schoodic. 2010 b. g., Tiznow—Aunt Henny, by Hennessy. Owner: Edith R. Dixon. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Breeder: Edith R. Dixon (Ky.) 2016 record: 7-1-2-0, $60,150. 2015 record: 4-0-2-2, $58,000. 2014 record: 6-2-0-1, $67,500. Won Radnor’s 2016 National Hunt Cup (Gr. 3), then was sixth in Saratoga’s A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1) and fourth in New York Turf Writers Cup (Gr. 1). Eased in Belmont’s Lonesome Glory Handicap and was seventh in International Gold Cup’s David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial (Gr. 2). Finished second in 2016 David Semmes Memorial (Gr. 2) and Middleburg Spring Ratings Handicap. (129)
Scorpiancer (Ire). 2009 b. g., Scorpion (Ire)—Janebailey, By Silver Patriarch. Owner: Bruton Street-US. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Breeder: Mary O’Connor (Ire). 2016 record: 7-1-4-1, $217,600. 2015 NSA record: 2-2-0-0, $75,000. Won Belmont Park’s 2016 Lonesome Glory Handicap (Gr. 1) before second in Grand National (Gr. 1). Finished good second in Saratoga’s 2016 A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1), then was third in New York Turf Writers Cup (Gr. 1). Finished second in Middleburg Spring’s 2016 Temple Gwathmey Handicap (Gr. 3), then fourth in Calvin Houghland Iroquois (Gr. 1). Finished second in Fair Hill’s Valentine Memorial Ratings Handicap. Won 2015 Foxbrook Champion Hurdle. (150)
Simenon (Ire). (143) 2007 b. g., Marju (Ire)—Epistoliere, by Alzao. Owner: Rosbrian Farm. Trainer: Ricky Hendriks. Breeder: Max Morris (Ire). 2016 NSA record: No starts. Talented long-distance runner was acquired after settling into jumps career with top Irish trainer Willie Mullins and winning two allowance hurdles in Ireland. Finished fourth in 2013 Melbourne Cup (Aus-Gr. 1) and 2015 Ascot Gold Cup (Eng-Gr. 1). Has more than 50 career starts and earnings above $900,000. (143)
Swansea Mile (Ire). 2010 b. g., Dylan Thomas (Ire)—Hurry Up Helen, by In the Wings (GB). Owner: Rosbrian Farm. Trainer: Ricky Hendriks. Breeder: W. Kane (Ire). 2017 record: 1-0-1-0, $5,400. 2016 NSA record: 3-0-0-0, $7,500. Opened 2017 with good second in Steeplechase of Charleston optional allowance hurdle. Finished fourth in Belmont Park’s Lonesome Glory Handicap (Gr. 1) in U.S. debut, then was seventh in Far Hills’ Foxbrook Champion Hurdle and pulled up in Noel Laing Handicap. Failed to meet reserve and was bid in at approximately $25,300 at 2016 Goffs UK National Hunt sale in August. (125)
Top Striker. 2009 b. g., Van Nistelrooy—Two’s Cozy, by Cozzene. Owner: Mrs. George M. Sensor. Trainer: Arch Kingsley Jr. Breeder: Sycamore Hall Farm (Md.) 2016 record: 7-2-2-2, $174,700. 2015 record: No starts. Completed 2016 on a high note with wins in Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup (Gr. 1) and David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial (Gr. 2) at 2016 International Gold Cup. Lost a tough decision by a nose in Saratoga Ratings Handicap, then was second in another Spa handicap. Finished third in Fair Hill’s Valentine Memorial Ratings Handicap. Finished third in 2016 David Semmes Memorial (Gr. 2) at Virginia Gold Cup after fourth in Middleburg Spring’s Temple Gwathmey Handicap (Gr. 3). Won 2014 Carolina Cup and AFLAC Supreme Hurdle. (149)