8/23: Saratoga Steeplechase George Walsh Novice

[Flatterer]

The Michael Walsh Novice stakes is on tap Wednesday at 2 3/8 miles over 9 jumps. This is a restricted race for non-winners over hurdles before March 1, 2016, or runners that have not won 3 races over hurdles.

Most have already run at the meet so who beat who is important. Here is a look at the runners with NSA rating – higher the better.

I’m preparing for Travers week trip so I’ve used some information below from Don Clippinger’s column at the NSA site.

#1) Wigwam Baby. 2011 b. f., Langfuhr—Tepee Tot, by Waquoit. Owner: Bill Pape. Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard. Jockey: Gus Dahl. Breeders: Bill Pape and Jonathan Sheppard (Pa.) 2017 NSA record: 1-0-1-0, $13,500. 2016 record: 2-1-0-0, $16,500. In first start over fences since May 2016, finished second in Saratoga’s 2017 Mrs. Ogden Phipps for fillies and mares. Opened 2016 with win in Atlanta allowance hurdle for fillies and mares, then was sixth in Margaret Currey Henley at Iroquois Steeplechase. Three-time winner on flat. Mare against the boys, no weight break for her, Sheppard’s losing streak continues. (109)

#2) New Member (Ire). 2011 b. g., Alhaarth (Ire)—Sincere, by Buhhare. Owner: Armata Stables. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Darren Nagle. Breeder: Golden Garden Stud (Ire). 2017 NSA record: 1-0-0-0, $0. Finished good third in Saratoga’s Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes but disqualified for going off-course in tight quarters after last jump. Newcomer to American racing had allowance and handicap wins in England last year for trainer Tom Lacey. Showed little in Parx flat race for hurdlers on July 8. (130)

#3) Bobabout (Ire). 2013 b. g., Big Bad Bob—Chaperoned (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Cyril Murphy. Jockey: Danny Mullins. Breeder: John Harrington (Ire). 2017 NSA record: No starts. Newcomer to U.S. racing won Punchestown handicap in April for breeder-trainer and then had two seconds before sixth at Tipperary in late June. 127 hurdle rating in Ireland theoretically translates to 127 NSA rating.

#4) Macnicholson (Ire). 2009 b. g., Definite Article (GB)—Heroic Performer, by Royal Applause (GB). Owner: James S. Carter. Trainer: Jimmy Day. Jockey; Robert Dunne. Breeder: D. Shine (Ire). 2017 NSA record: 3-0-0-0, $3,000. 2016 NSA record: No starts. Finished sixth and placed fifth in Saratoga’s Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes. Lost riders in his first U.S. starts, 2017 Carolina Cup and Marcellus Frost Champion Hurdle, both for novices. Finished third in a steeplechase allowance at Gowran Park in Ireland in January. Looking for first victory since August 2015. (130)

#5) Miguel Grau. 2010 b. g., City Zip—Zuri Ridge, by Cox’s Ridge. Owner: Gil Johnston. Trainer: Richard Valentine. Jockey: Shane Crimin. Breeder: Sea Horse Breeders (Ky.) 2017 record: 2-0-0-0, $12,500. 2016 record: 6-1-1-2, $50,850. 2015 record: 6-1-1-1, $34,200. Advanced to fourth in Saratoga’s 2017 Jonathan Kiser Stakes. Opened 2017 with seventh in Carolina Cup, then was fourth in Queen’s Cup MPC ’Chase and Iroquois’ Marcellus Frost Champion Stakes, all for novices. Finished second in Belmont’s 2016 William Entenmann Memorial Novice Stakes, then was third in Far Hills’ Foxbrook Champion Hurdle. (120)

#6) My Afleet. 2011 gr. or ro. g., Afleet Alex—My Own Story, by Lasting Approval. Owners: Jeffrey S. Amling and Merriebelle Stable. Jockey: Jack Doyle. Trainer: Mark Beecher. Breeders. Jeffrey S. Amling and Charles Noell. 2017 record: 3-2-0-0, $63,000. 2016 NSA record: No starts. Made a successful jumps debut with 34 1/2-length victory in 2017 Tryon Block House maiden hurdle, then won Virginia Gold Cup allowance hurdle before second in Iroquois’ Marcellus Frost Champion Hurdle for novices. Stakes winner on flat finished second in Saratoga’s John’s Call Stakes in final flat start. (128)

#7) Zio Elio. 2013 ch. g., American Lion—Runaway Zia, by Runaway Groom. Owner: Edition Farm. Trainer: Kate Dalton. Jockey: Bernie Dalton. Breeders: Christopher Shelli, Patrick Morell, and Darby Dan Farm (N.Y.) 2017 record: 3-1-1-0, $28,900. Finished second, beaten a neck, in Saratoga allowance hurdle. In debut start over fences, won 2017 Queen’s Cup maiden hurdle, then tired to finish sixth in Parx handicap hurdle. Maiden on the flat at New York tracks. He has lightweight at 141 and ran fast over the course. Must use in exotics. (114)

#8) Moscato (GB). 2011 gr. or ro. g., Hernando (Fr)—Alba Stella, by Nashwan. Owner: Bruton Street-US. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockkey: Sean McDermott. Breeder: Miss K. Rausing (GB). 2017 record: 4-2-2-0, $66,000. 2016 NSA record: No starts. Finished closing second in Saratoga’s 2017 Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes. After promising start to U.S. career with close second in 2017 Carolina Cup maiden hurdle, won Queen’s Cup maiden by 7 1/4 lengths and Iroquois allowance hurdle by 6 1/2 lengths. (124)

# 9) Surprising Soul. 2012 b. g., Perfect Soul (Ire)—Elusive Srprise, by Elusive Quality. Owner: Wendy W. Hendriks. Trainer: Ricky Hendriks. Jockey: Ross Geraghty. Breeder: Charles Fipke (Ont.) 2017 record: 4-3-0-1, $103,500. 2016 NSA record: 3-0-2-0, $13,200. Advanced to third in Saratoga’s 2017 Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes after victory in Iroquois’ $100,000 Marcellus Frost Champion Hurdle. He was cooked on the front end by Moscato in the Kiser. Won maiden hurdle at 2017 Aiken Spring easily and won allowance hurdle at Tryon Block House. (130)

#10) Curve of Stones 2011 gr. or ro. g., Arch—Exceptionally, by El Prado (Ire). Owner: Sarah Rebecca Shepherd. Trainer: David M. Bourke. Jockey: Michael Mitchell. Breeder: Audley Farm (Va.) 2017 NSA record: 2-0-0-0, $0. 2016 NSA record: 3-2-0-0, $56,400. Finished eighth in 2017 Parx handicap. Pulled up in 2017 Fair Hill ratings handicap after ninth in Virginia Gold Cup flat race. Won maiden victory at 2016 Virginia Gold Cup and came back two weeks later to win $35,000 allowance hurdle at Radnor. Finished fifth in Monmouth Park ratings handicap. (112)

There are several stalkers that will make the race a mad dash over the last 2 fences on the backstretch and the final flat ½ mile. The NSA ratings provide a fair assessment of the field.

Selections: A) 6 -8 - 7 B) 2 - 9

Good luck at the races!