You ready for steeplechasing? The forecast in Saratoga, if you’re in Saratoga, calls for a blizzard this weekend, but the 2024 National Steeplechase Association schedule kicks off Saturday in Aiken, S.C., with the traditional opener.
Run for the 57th time, the meet dates to 1930 when Thomas Hitchcock, Temple Gwathmey and Harry Worcester Smith organized a racing day in the Hitchcock Woods. After an absence of 25 years, the meet returned to the NSA calendar in 1967 and has been a key stop ever since. Organizers unveiled a new course in 2022, constructed a finish-line tower in time for last fall’s season finale and have plans for more under the direction of Aiken Steeplechase Association president Frank Mullins and event manager Jessica Miller.
Saturday’s lineup includes six races worth $140,000. Post time is 1 p.m.
Aiken is the first of 16 stops on the NSA spring calendar, which includes racing every weekend through May 18. All races will be livestreamed on the NSA website.
Like the horses, trainers and jockeys, the TIHR handicappers shake off some winter rust (and snow) and try to find some winners. Joe swept the spring and fall (21/66) challenges last year, and looks for a hat trick.
First race. James W. Maloney training flat going 1 1/4 miles. Seven made the program topped by $512,279 earner L’Imperator, but he and Cite will scratch. That leaves a competitive group of five: Hard Spun 4-year-old Hidden Path, hurdle veteran Bee Major, Laurel Park maiden winner Wired In, Irish-raced maiden Memento and three-time flat winner Willow Wood, the only one of the bunch with a start this year. He was sixth on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 10.
- Joe: Hidden Path, Memento Willow Wood.
- Sean: Memento, Hidden Path, Willow Wood.
- Tom: Willow Wood, Wired In, Bee Major.
Second race. $20,000 G.H. “Pete” Bostwick starter maiden hurdle ($20,000 or less) going 2 1/8 miles. Eight tackle the first jump race of the season as Bless Bless will scratch. Who’s ready? First-timers Trisaetum and Ruthenian start their careers. Greylover makes his eighth hurdle start after placing four times last year. Champion jcokey Graham Watters gets aboard for trainer Mark Beecher. Champion trainer Leslie Young send out Secret Soulmate, fourth over the course last fall. Fingal ran over jumps last May, then stayed busy on the flat for Arch Kingsley. Evie’s Prince finished third at Aiken last fall after leading late in his debut at Montpelier.
- Joe: Greylover, Secret Soulmate, Evie’s Prince.
- Sean: Evie’s Prince, Greylover, Fingal.
- Tom: Fingal, Greylover, Secret Soulmate.
Third race. $25,000 Charles Bird III handicap hurdle (110) going 2 1/8 miles. Five handicappers clash ere, none more accomplished than five-time winner Minella Plus. The Irish-bred makes his American debut off a mark of 104. He’s rated 122 over chase fences, but his last over the bigger obstacles was in 2022. His last win, over hurdles, came that year too. Can he handle the faster American pace in his first start for trainer (and former jockey) Tom Garner? Beecher counters with Frontline Citizen, a former amateur mount for owner Alex Leventhal who was 2 lengths behind future champion Merry Maker in 2021. Watters takes the ride. Prophets Voice dominated maiden claimers at Charleston last fall, his only jump start. Clara Belle represents the Aiken locals while returning to trainer Keri Brion after five flat starts with Mike Maker.
- Joe: Frontline Citizen, Minella Plus, Prophets Voice.
- Sean: Frontline Citizen, Minella Plus, Bourbon Diversion.
- Tom: Prophets Voice, Minella Plus, Bourbon Diversion.
Fourth race. $30,000 Ford Conger maiden hurdle going 2 1/8 miles. Seven get to work here, including In Effect (second and third in his last two starts of 2023) for Morris, the experienced Quid for trainer Julie Gomena, Kenilworth King for the Young barn, two-time Irish flat winner Chef d’Etat for Kingsley and the stakes-placed-on-the-flat Mr Jefferson from Morris.
- Joe: In Effect, Chef d’Etat, Quid.
- Sean: Chef d’Etat, In Effect, Quid.
- Tom: In Effect, Kenilworth King, Chef d’Etat.
Fifth race. $30,000 Joe Blanchard filly/mare maiden hurdle going 2 1/8 miles. Four of the five make their hurdle debuts, leaving Irish-bred Fox In The Park looking difficult to handle with her six prior tries over jumps. Trained by Young, the 6-year-old finished second at Middleburg last spring and was fifth at Foxfield in October. French-bred 4-year-old Haint Blue won on the flat at Laurel in October.
- Joe: Fox In The Park, Haint Blue, Crimson Lillie
- Sean: Fox In The Park, Exculpate, Haint Blue.
- Tom: Exculpate, Van Bright, Haint Blue.
Sixth race. $35,000 Imperial Cup handicap hurdle (non-winners of an open stakes over hurdles) going 2 1/8 miles. Five contest the feature and they all bring credentials. Cibolian won a Colonial Downs maiden and was beaten 4 1/2 lengths in a Grade 2 on the flat last year for the Kingsley barn. The 7-year-old adds blinkers at 146 pounds. The Insider won this last year (when it was restricted to 4-year-olds) and is 4-for-6 record over jumps in Ireland and the U.S. Watters takes the ride for Brion at 146. Veteran Soviet Pimpernel makes his fifth American start, off 21 starts over jumps. He won two in Ireland – in 2019 – while getting some class relief. Gerard Galligan rides for Ricky Hendriks at 146. Hendriks also brings the 158-pound highweight in West Newton. For the Royal Family watchers, he was bred by the Queen of England. On the course, the British-bred has won four of 18 over jumps, topped by two wins in handicap company (one at Aiken) last spring and a second to Snap Decision at Great Meadow in October. Harrison Beswick rides the 8-year-old. Caramelised seeks his fifth jump win for the Young barn. The English-bred opened 2023 with a win in the Carolina Cup, lost his next three by double-digit margins, and was fourth behind Snap Decision and West Newton in October. Jamie Bargary rides at 152.
- Joe: West Newton, The Insider, Caramelised.
- Sean: West Newton, Cibolian, Caramelised.
- Tom: West Newton, Caramelised, The Insider.
