In this game, you learn to look ahead. Looking backward, some days, most days, makes it worse. We look ahead and it’s an easy weekend to look ahead to as the Iroquois Steeplechase and the Willowdale Steeplechase bookend Saturday. Chalk and cheese.
The 82nd running of the Iroquois offers huge purses for all divisions, including $200,000 offered for the 3-mile Iroquois Steeplechase. Maidens, handicappers, novices, fillies and mares and timber horses have their opportunities on the 1 1/2-oval at Percy Warner Park.
Willowdale offers chances for the other side of the barn; maiden claimers, 110 handicappers, apprentice rider races over hurdles and timber. Thanks to the committee for splitting the maiden claimer.
Riverdee entered Tuddenham Green in the Bright Hour at the Iroquois. Danny Mullins rides the 5-year-old, who makes his American debut for Jack Fisher in a deep renewal of the 120 handicap.
Snow Geese returns to action for the first time since a strong runner-up effort at the Carolina Cup for Bernie and Kate Dalton. The son of Tourist faces seven rivals in the second division of the John Sloan Sr.
Two races later, Zabeel Champion takes on five rivals in the big one, the Grade 1 Calvin Houghland Iroquois. French-bred Vae Patron makes his stateside debut. Solid American-bred Jimmy P makes his first start of the season. Snap Decision rolls in fresh off a romp in the Temple Gwathmey. Sebastopol tries to improve upon his fourth in the Gwathmey. Grade 1 winner Noah And The Ark has started to put together a string of good efforts. Cool race. Soft ground? Trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Bernie Dalton, Zabeel Champion is probably the outsider of the six.
Fits The Jill returns to the races for the first time since pulling up in the Margaret Currey Henley Memorial last year. Graham Watters rides for Jack Fisher.
At Willowdale, Jimmy Dan steps up into the 110 division after a runaway debut win at Tryon. Teddy Davies, fresh off losing his apprentice allowance, rides for Jack Fisher.
World Factor is entered in the split maiden claimer for Todd Wyatt and Ben French Davis. We need a major improvement here.
Queens Empire meets appentice Virginia Korrell for the William Speakman apprentice rider timber.
Potus makes his long-awaited timber debut for Jack Fisher and Whit Schweizer in the Landhope Cup.
That’s how we look ahead.
