Six runners at the Iroquois. Two runners at Willowdale. The spring season – possibly the whole season – can be made in an afternoon.
It could be the best card in American steeplechase history. Seven competitive races with full fields, including a split novice with the same purse ($125,000) in each division. A whopping $730,000 on the table. Shout out to the Iroquois Steeplechase team for making it happen. Looks like an inch of rain fell this week, that tilts it to the Europeans. With six Riverdee runners, it helps a few, hurts a few.
I like seeing the odds in the past performances at the Iroquois. Adds a dash of legitimacy, even if there isn’t any betting on the day. Well, there will be betting, just not parimutuel betting. I’ll try to explain that to confused international tourists and others in the owner/trainer tent Saturday. State laws…rules…red tape…
Vintage Year. 10-1. Fulmineo. 3-1. Cyber Ninja. 2-1. Rocket One. 2-1. Zabeel Champion. 10-1. Potus. 3-1.
At Willowdale, Tuddenham Green would be 15-1 and Include It would be 8-1. Guessing.
I like our horses. Of course, I like our horses, right? Objectivity can be tricky from the grindstone.
Vintage Year should improve from his 2026 outing at Foxfield when he finished second well behind Roja Redemption. The son of Point Of Entry should handle 2 3/4 miles in the 120 handicap. Competitive group, balancing talent and experience.
Fulmineo joined Riverdee after finishing second in his hurdle debut at Foxfield. Strong flat form, with two stakes wins on soft ground (don’t see that too often). On paper, the son of Bolt d’Oro should improve in his second start. Irish-bred Famous Figure makes his U.S. debut, Loose Wire finished third in my favorite race, the Valedictory, back in 2024. Strong maiden, as it should be.
Cyber Ninja takes on seven rivals in the first division of the Green Pastures. Fresh off a win at Foxfield, the son of Arrogate owns three wins from four starts over hurdles. Coutach is tough. St James The Great won at Aiken. Competitive but certainly within the realm.
Love the split, as we were able to separate Rocket One and Cyber Ninja. The former looked home free at Foxfield until Cyber Ninja reeled him in late. Rocket One is a tried-and-true flat-bred horse (Into Mischief-London Mist, Afleet Alex) so soft ground doesn’t help. He should handle it but it could help Walk The Warrior, Mr Percy and a few others.
Zabeel Champion returns to the Iroquois for the third straight year. Third behind a course-record setting Snap Decision and Vae Patron in 2024 and a faller while in contention in 2025, the 9-year-old comes in fresh off an upset win in the Temple Gwathmey. Soft ground helps, but it helps others as well. Competition is fierce. Fil Dor won the Colonial Cup, James Du Berlais scrapped with the best in Europe, Vae Patron has hit the board in the last two editions of the Iroquois, Lydford won the Good Night Shirt at Foxfield, Swore is 4-for-5 over hurdles, Ziggle Pops owns a Grade 1 win, Abaan won the Iroquois last year, Sweet Will finished third behind Swore and…we’re not done here…Zanahiyr returns to defend his Grand National crown. Yeah, it’s that kind of race.
Potus tries to make it three in a row in the finale. The allowance timber drew a strong group, led by For The Parish, 2-for-2 over timber this spring.
Six runners on the biggest day. There was a time when we would shoot for the moon with one. Six is better. Here goes.
