For better or worse (I think better), the American steeplechase schedule has four distinct seasons. Spring, summer, fall, winter. Each has their own intricacies. The fall season kicks off Saturday.
Looking ahead to the weekend, Riverdee entered five horses at Shawan Downs. Four drew in and one waits as the first horse on the also-eligible list.
Ethics makes his hurdle debut in the opener. The 3-year-old son of Hard Spun joined the team in the spring, freshened up, ran twice on the flat at Colonial Downs, learned to jump and takes the usual freshman approach to hurdle races in the U.S. with a debut at Shawan Downs. Freddie Procter rides for Jack Fisher. Full field. Tough race.
Serifos wound up on the also-eligible list in the maiden hurdle. The son of Into Mischief won three times, including the Presious Passion Stakes on the flat and makes his hurdle debut for Riverdee and Ten Strike Racing. Stephen Mulqueen rides for Jack Fisher. Full field. Tough race.
Cyber Ninja goes back to hurdling after winning his debut at Colonial Downs this summer. Tempted by big purses on the flat, we tried him at Delaware Park and Kentucky Downs before and after. He posted 80 Beyer Numbers but basically didn’t threaten. Graham Watters rides for Jack Fisher. Cue the band…Full field. Tough race.
Queens Empire returns for the fall after a debacle in the Maryland Hunt Cup in May. We’ve changed a few things and hope the timber veteran can defend his crown in the Brown Advisory Timber Stakes. Soft ground would help. Play it again…Full field. Tough race.
Potus returns over timber in the finale. The son of Lemon Drop Kid has earned six checks in seven starts over timber. Stephen Mulqueen rides for Jack Fisher. And the encore…Full field. Tough race.
