Jack Fisher wins three, including $200,000 Stakes, at Iroquois

Details: May 25, 2017

Jack Fisher had a huge day at the Iroquois Steeplechase in Nashville, Tenn., on May 13, winning three of the seven races and finishing first and second in two of them, including in the $200,000 G1 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Stakes.

jackfisheriroquois Jack FisherIf you’re going to win, Iroquois is “the place to do it,” said Fisher. “It’s got all the money.”

“The owners enjoy it,” said Fisher. “It’s rare that all my owners come to a race, but all the owners came to Iroquois.”

Bruton Street-US’ Scorpiancer, ridden by Sean McDermott, won the $200,000 Stakes by 16 lengths over his stablemate, Harold A. Via Jr.’s Hinterland, ridden by Willie McCarthy, with Ballybristol Farm LLC’s Andi’amu, trained by Leslie Young and ridden by Paddy Young, another 40 lengths back in third and William Pape’s Martini Brother, trained by Jonathan Sheppard and ridden by Darren Nagle, a distanced fourth.

Scorpiance had previously won the Temple Gwathmey Stakes at Middleburg on April 22 in his first start this year.

Fisher started the day by winning the first race, the $50,000 Allowance Hurdle, with Bruton Street-US’ Moscato (GB), ridden by McDermott.

Moscato won by 6 ¾ lengths over Robert A. Kinsley’s Lyonell (Ger), trained by Elizabeth Voss and ridden by Jack Doyle.

Bruton Street-US is a group of owners headed by Charlie Fenwick, Mike Hankin and Charlie Noell.

“They bought Moscato to run here, but then they changed their minds and ran him in England,” said Fisher. “But he was running so badly over there that they brought him here.”

“He ran for the first time at Charlestown, and he was second,” said Fisher. “Then he ran at Charlotte and won. He was a different horse, he’d woken up.”

Fisher had both the winner, Kremlin, and the second placed horse, Dark Gemini (Ire), in the $40,000 Sport of Kings Maiden Hurdle.

Kremlin is owned by Rather Be Racing and was ridden by Keith Dalton, and Dark Gemini is owned by Serendipity Stable and was ridden by McCarthy.

“Kremlin has been second quite a bit,” said Fisher. “I thought he might be there (at Iroquois). He’s a big galloping horse.”

RICKY HENDRIKS saddle his mother Wendy’s Surprising Soul to win the second feature, the $100,000 Sport of Kings Novice Hurdle, giving Surprising Soul his third straight victory and making Wendy Hendriks the third leading Owner, Money Won.

Surprising Soul, ridden by Ross Geraghty, won by 2 ¼ lengths over My Afleet, owned by Jeffrey S. Amling, trained by Mark Beecher and ridden by Kieran Norris.

Surprising Soul is now back at Hendriks’ farm in West Chester.

“He’s in light training,” said Hendriks. “Far Hills (in October) is our goal, but I’m not sure whether we’ll run him at Saratoga or maybe shoot for the novice race at Belmont in September.” Plated, owned by Magalen O. Bryant, trained by Jimmy Day and ridden by Brendan Crowley, won the $35,000 Ratings Handicap Hurdle by 1 ¼ lengths over Buttonwood Far’s All the Way Jose, trained by Jonathan Sheppard and ridden by Keri Brion.

Sarah Joyce (Ire), owned by The Fields Stable, trained by Elizabeth Voss and ridden by Jack Doyle, won the $50,000 Filly and Mare Hurdle Stakes by 3 ¼ lengths over Ciboure (Fr), owned by Hudson River Farms, trained by Sheppard and ridden by Gerard Galligan.

In the $50,000 Timber Stakes, Cornhusker, owned by Armata Stables, trained by Alicia Murphy and ridden by Beecher, won by 2 ½ lengths over Syros, owned by Mrs. S.K. Johnston Jr., trained by Fisher and ridden by Haddon Frost.