News

We’re working our to the top on the Dynaformer countdown and Sheila Williams’ Rare Bush is next in line at number four.

We continue our countdown of the best Dynaformer-sired steeplechase runners with Tax Ruling at number five. Irv Naylor’s charge stepped up to the plate and ran a big third in the Grand National for trainer Desmond Fogarty, which was the best finish by the American contingent in the $250,000 Grade I.

Over the course of the season it’s become quite clear that Dynaformer has emerged as the preeminant sire of steeplechase stars. If there was still a debate it ended abruptly Saturday at Far Hills, when the five Dynaformer runners entered on the card finished with two wins, a second and a third. With that in mind, over the next week we’ll count down his top six runners of the past decade and look back on their accomplishments.

We’ll start the countdown with Dynaskill, who checks in at number six.

Two days after U.S. Steeplechase Championship Day, what do we know now?Other than autumn steeplechase weather can be as wild as a 14-horsemaiden claimer.

Irish import Your Sum Man, making his first jump start for trainer Tom Voss, upset the $250,000 Grand National hurdle stakes Saturday at Far Hills.

Yes, it’s that Ken McPeek on your steeplechase overnight. The top flat trainer unveils his firstjumper, Old Man Buck, in the maiden hurdle at the Charlottesville, Va.meet Foxfield Sunday, Sept. 27.

Longshot Red Letter Day made the most of a slow pace and led from start to finish in Sunday’s Grade I Lonesome Glory at Bemont Park.

She came, she conquered. She fought, she won.

“Calvin kept telling me, ‘You wait until they look at her, there will be more.’ He said that every time,” Steve Asmussen said after Rachel Alexandra won the Woodward. “I’m like, ‘How the hell would you know?’ How would you know?”

John Velazquez went back to the jocks’ room and started to teach RaceRiding 101. Saturday’s lesson: How to Win a 7-furlong Grade I atSaratoga.

Been here before. Blank page. The last page for the next 10 1/2 months. So much pressure on 800 words, hard to get started.