Far Hills, the show of shows. The season’s richest meet, championship day, whatever you want to call is upon us again. It’s the 103rd running of the meet, which is just bananas when you think about it. It wasn’t that long ago that we all called it Essex and the feature was worth $12,000. Now, it’s Far Hills, the big race is worth $250,000 and total purses top out at $720,000.
Whew. Post time is 12:50 p.m. for the first of six races. It’ll all be on Fox Sports 2 as part of the America’s Day at the Races show and you can watch, bet, etc. all day. Try the NYRA site for some live information. Otherwise check your TV package for Fox Sports 2 or try the National Steeplechase Association livestream or the NYRA YouTube channel
If you’re in town, you can tailgate with 30,000 or so others in ideal autumn weather (no rain or mud this year).
Oh, and we’ve got picks. Last week, Tom came alive and got three wins at Virginia Fall and Genesee. Joe had one. Sean was blanked. That’s 5 for Joe, 4 for Tom, 3 for Sean. A big day at Far Hills will change everybody’s outlook.
If you’re betting, check out the cross-country Pick Five and its 15 percent takeout. The fifth at Far Hills, the Grand National, is the opening leg (single Snap Decision if you dare; maybe backup with Jimmy P). Next comes the Perryville at Keeneland (Knightsbridge, anyone?; or Book’em Danno as the chalk). Back to Far Hills for leg three, the John Forbes 2-mile flat race (The Grey Wizard is the chalk but you might want to spread a little; Awesome Man as a bomb). Leg four is the Athenia at Aqueduct (Edict, Three Priests, Prerequisite). The finale goes back to Keeneland for the Raven Run (Emery is chalky; Fibber fits).
First race. $50,000 Harry Harris hurdle stakes for 4-year-olds, 2 1/8 miles. A mixed bag of eight shows up for the opener. Kyogo won here last year. Hidden Path has already had a great year (a win here and it’s awesome). Clifton Down won this type of race in May. Smart Uncle is a career maiden, but comes off two strong flat runs.
- Joe: Smart Uncle, Hidden Path, Clifton Down.
- Tom: Smart Uncle, Clifton Down, Hidden Path.
- Sean: Smart Uncle, Clifton Down, Hidden Path.
Second race. $70,000 McDynamo Sweepstakes maiden hurdle, 2 1/8 miles. What a cool concept. The races honors Far Hills legend McDynamo, who won here seven years in a row – a maiden in 2001, novice in 2002 and five consecutive years of Grade 1 triumphs. The race carries a $50,000 base purse. Each owner put up $1,000 to run and McDynamo’s owners Michael and Anne Moran matched the owners’ ante. Ten entered, nine run as Nathan Detroit scratches. Minella Juke nearly won at Shawan. Rucker Road cost a bundle, so did Marcel Magic. Harrenhal finished a solid second at Foxfield and gets top Irish jockey Jack Kennedy. Pebbly Pour Toi was third in that race. Moonshine Time figures, getting away from Colonial Downs.
- Joe: Harrenhal, Minella Juke, Memento.
- Tom: Minella Juke, Moonshine Time, Memento.
- Sean: Harrenhal, Minella Juke, Rucker Road.
Third race. $100,000 Peapack hurdle stakes for fillies/mares, 2 1/8 miles. The distaffers seem to take turns beating each other, but we’ll see what happens with a strong field of eight signed on here. Right Tempo dominated at Nashville, but we haven’t seen her since. Is she vulnerable off the layoff? Gold Charm, out of a Cozzene mare (which should make you pay attention), will like the ground and can pick up a lot of pieces from off the pace. Exculpate is tough if she jumps and handles the trip. Easy Squeeze has been good twice, winning at Foxfield. Can she overcome some inexperience? Haint Blue should run better away from Colonial Downs. As usual, pretty wide open.
- Joe: Gold Charm, Exculpate, Easy Squeeze.
- Tom: Right Tempo, Exculpate, Gold Charm.
- Sean: Right Tempo, Gold Charm, Easy Squeeze.
Fourth race. $100,000 Foxbrook Champion novice hurdle stakes, 2 1/2 miles. A year ago, four horses ran in this race. Now, 10 show up. Last year’s winner Abaan rates a long look. Ignore his Saratoga races, where he wasn’t the same horse. He prepped on the flat at Foxfield and looked good doing it. He gets challenged by several major players. Evie’s Prince won at Saratoga and should like this course. Lightning Rod is better than his last. Saint Riquier arrives from England, with a big chance. Jimmy Dan has won four this year. Old Tom Morris was awesome at Nashville in May. He’s a player. Doesn’t Sting might be tough to catch. Deep race.
- Joe: Abaan, Saint Riquier, Jimmy Dan.
- Tom: Jimmy Dan, Set Point, Abaan.
- Sean: Abaan, Jimmy Dan, Old Tom Morris.
Fifth race. $250,000 American Grand National, 2 5/8 miles. For starters, to those that might not know, it’s called a grand national but it’s nothing like Aintree. Just a cool, historic race dating the 1800s. It’s been run in numerous locations in various configurations. Far Hills tests stamina, speed, jumping, all of it. The ground plays a big factor and can make the final time vary by almost a minute. The course seems firm and fair this year. No excuses. No advantage to Irish/English raiders. Snap Decision makes his fourth try in the race. He was second in 2021, the last time he got decent ground here. In 2022, he was a dismal sixth and last year he pulled up in soft ground. It’ll be firm this year and if he runs his race he won’t lose. But he’s got to run his race. The upsetters are poised – Jimmy P off a Grade 1 win at Saratoga and a strong training flat prep at Foxfield; L’Imperator off a tough-trip second at Aqueduct and with a Grade 1 on his record; last year’s winner Noah And The Ark; last year’s overall champion Merry Maker off the bench; Sebastopol off an upset of the favorite at Foxfield 13 days ago; Aintree starter Galvin over from Ireland; and former flat star High Definition looking to vault from novice to Grade 1; oh and don’t forget Frontline Citizen looking for a big upset. Cool race as always. Tactical question: Does Snap Decision make the running? If so, he’s vulnerable just because horses/jockeys can test him for 2 miles. He’ll appreciate the ground and level weights. He might not appreciate getting pestered throughout or running back in 13 days. Bring it on.
- Joe: Snap Decision, Jimmy P, High Definition.
- Tom: Snap Decision, Galvin, Jimmy P.
- Sean: Snap Decision, Jimmy P, Sebastopol.
Sixth race. $150,000 John Forbes Memorial flat stakes, 2 miles. First off, take a moment to remember John Forbes. He was New Jersey’s trainer – a multiple meet leader at Monmouth Park and The Meadowlands, president of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, trainer of Tale Of The Cat and member of the U.S. Pro Mini Golf Hall of Fame (really). His race is a doozy. Graded stakes winner The Grey Wizard heads a field of 13. California Frolic won the Presious Passion at Monmouth Park. Dean Martini could try to take them all the way. Lord Flintshire won his last and should love the extra distance. British Royalty won a leg of Canada’s Triple Crown not all that long ago. Fun race, fulfilling its purpose as a flat/jump crossover.
- Joe: Awesome Man, The Grey Wizard, Dean Martini.
- Tom: The Grey Wizard, Tide Of The Sea, Dean Martini.
- Sean: The Grey Wizard, Lord Flintshire, Awesome Man.
