8/28: Saratoga Race 1 Walsh Novice Steeplechase

[Flatterer]

The Michael Walsh Novice Stakes ends the summer steeplechase season at Saratoga. The race goes 2 ⅜ miles around 5 turns over 9 jumps with a 4 ½ furlong flat run after the last jump features an interesting mix of good flat runners, some imports and recent maiden winners.

#7 Hold Hard has the highest rating of 124, is 2 for 2 this year beating several next out winners and other runners in this field, retains jockey Bernie Dalton and is co-highweight carrying 153 pounds. Flat track speed is average and he will have to display the same fast closing speed at Great Meadow.

#8 Evie’s Prince ran the fastest time over the jumps this summer at Colonial by almost 2 full seconds, has above average flat track speed and keeps leading jockey Graham Watters for trainer Neil Morris but is 153 co-highweight.

#6 Little Trilby makes his US debut over jumps after 2 jump wins in Ireland. Gordon Elliot has a close relationship with trainer Ricky Hendriks and gets premier Irish jump rider Jack Kennedy to come in and ride. Jack Kennedy is 6 for 10 over jumps in the US since 2017 and has a 20% jump win rate in Ireland since 2020 from 3000 mounts.

#1 Hidden Path for trainer Ricky Hendriks and his son jockey Parker Hendriks have the best flat track speed in the field, light weight at 144, and is training well at Delaware Park.

#2 Westerland (3rd) finally broke his maiden after 20 attempts and has very good flat track speed so he can run underneath in tris and supers.

Selection:

A) 7 - 8 (WON $8.40) - 6

B)

C) 1 (2nd)

Good luck at the races!