Did you clean out the attic? Go on that vacation? Read those books?
Well, it’s too late now. The 2026 spring steeplechase season is upon us yet again. Time flies. Frenetic race season. Fast off season. Doesn’t seem that long ago when Fil Dor galloped off into the fading sunset with an upset score in the Colonial Cup. The 8-year-old returns in the spring opener, the training flat race, at Aiken. Bigger things down the road for the French-bred. And bigger things down the road for steeplechasing.
Tie on, hang on, get on. The game is afoot.
The intrepid ST Handicappers are back to work. A bit of housecleaning. Sean led all prognosticators in the fall, picking 28 winners to edge out Joe with 26. Tom Law countered with 19 while the youngster Miles (so much to learn) tallied 14. All return with bragging rights and cases of beer (root beer, for you Miles) on the line.
You can watch all the action live.
The Aiken Spring Steeplechase. Saturday. March 21.
Race 1. The James W. Maloney. Training Flat. Sponsored by Aiken County Farm Supply. 1 ¼ miles. 1:00.
The aforementioned Fil Dor knocks off some rust for bigger targets down the line. Stablemate Starforce could be quicker. Shiv makes her debut. Jockey Jake Coen, winner of 35 races on the flat and 14 over jumps over the past five seasons in Ireland, makes his NSA debut aboard Fil Dor for trainer Ricky Hendriks.
Sean: Fil Dor, Starforce, Shiv.
Joe: Fil Dor, Shiv, Starforce.
Tom: Fil Dor, Starforce, Shiv.
Miles: Starforce, Shiv, Fil Dor.
Fil Dor returns on the flat after winning the 2025 Colonial Cup.
Race 2. The G.H. Bostwick. Maiden starter/maiden claiming hurdle. Sponsored by Aiken Regional Medical Centers. $20,000. 2 1/8 miles. 1:40.
Hendriks unveils two Erdenheim newcomers Grahamzilla and Oskar Martinez. Pudding Lane returns to where he finished fourth against straight maidens. Cartographer takes the most important drop in the sport, from maiden to maiden claiming and gets blinkers.
Sean: Pudding Lane, Cartographer, Grahamzilla.
Joe: Pudding Lane, Oskar Martinez, Cartographer.
Tom: Pudding Lane, Hello Newman, Cartographer.
Miles: Grahamzilla, Pudding Lane, Oskar Martinez.
Race 3. The Charles S. Bird III. Sponsored by Capital Waste Services. 110 handicap hurdle. $25,000. 2 1/8 miles. 2:20.
Love Shaq returns over course and distance where he won in November. Veteran Cainudothetwist makes her 28th start over hurdles. The Insider won the Imperial Cup way back in 2023 and drops down to the 110 level. Best bet of the day. Look out.
Sean: The Insider, Gossiper, Cainudothetwist.
Joe: The Insider, L’Avvocato, Love Shaq.
Tom: The Insider, Cainudothetwist, Love Shaq.
Miles: The Insider, Gossiper, Love Shaq.
The Insider won the 2023 Imperial Cup.
Race 4. The Ford D. Conger. Sponsored by Honda Cars of Aiken. Filly and mare maiden hurdle. $30,000. 2 1/8 miles. 3:00.
Diamond Approach, rated 86 over hurdles, makes her American debut after making eight hurdle starts in Ireland. Wonderfull Lady performed well in her hurdle debut at Aiken in the fall. Red Tone has a steeplechase pedigree. Claramente attracts some attention after four wins at Presque Isle Downs last year.
Sean: Wonderfull Lady, Diamond Approach, Ziggy Wiggy.
Joe: Articuno, Ziggy Wiggy, Wonderfull Lady.
Tom: Claramente, Ziggy Wiggy, Diamond Approach.
Miles: Claramente, Wonderfull Lady, Diamond Approach.
Race 5. The Joe R. Blanchard. Sponsored by Budweiser. Maiden hurdle. $35,000. 2 1/8 miles. 3:40.
I’m A Rocket Man makes his American debut for target trainer Arch Kingsley. Rotterdam, a $135,00 purchase last summer, makes his hurdle debut. Middleburg, Lewins Gully and Coal Boss have experience edges over some others.
Sean: I’m A Rocket Man, Middleburg, Rotterdam.
Joe: I’m A Rocket Man, Coal Boss, Rotterdam.
Tom: Coal Boss, Middleburg, I’m A Rocket Man.
Miles: I’m A Rocket Man, Bandoola, Lewins Gully.
Race 6. The Imperial Cup. 120 handicap hurdle. $40,000. 2 1/8 miles. 4:20.
The feature attracts five horses, which is a decent turnout considering the harsh winter weather. Predominate jumped on the scene last summer. Bee Well scored over the course in November. St James The Great produced two strong seconds last season. Rucker Road finished second behind Sweet Will last season and gets champion jockey Graham Watters. Madaket’s Arrow, who earned $53,000 in six winless starts last season, takes on the boys for Camden stalwarts Bernie and Kate Dalton. Competitive race.
Sean: Bee Well, St James The Great.
Joe: Bee Well, St James The Great, Rucker Road.
Tom: Rucker Road, Madaket’s Arrow, Bee Well.
Miles: Bee Well, St James The Great, Rucker Road.
