SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Cyril Murphy saddled McTigue to win the $75,000, 2 1/16 mile Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes by 3 3/4 lengths at Saratoga on Wednesday, Aug. 2.

McTigue ridden by Gerard Galligan on his way to winning the Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes (Photo by Tod Marks)Owned by Irv Naylor and ridden by Gerard Galligan, McTigue ran third behind Caramelised, trained by Leslie Young, and Realist, trained by Ricky Hendriks, who set a fast pace while battling each other for the lead.

Galligan on McTigue passed a tired Realist, who was eventually pulled up, on the backside and began to make a move after the last fence, pulling even with a tiring Caramelised on the turn and went on to win.

Awakened, trained by Jack Fisher was second, with Merry Maker and Barbados, both trained by Arch Kingsley, third and fourth respectively.

Galligan was a catch ride after Barry Foley was injured in a fall while schooling a horse in Virginia.

"I've had McTigue since the middle of April," said Murphy. "He won the Speedy Smithwick Memorial Stakes at the Gold Cup after Hoffman was disqualified. He had nice form in Europe where he was a graded stakes winner in France. He was then sent to race in Ireland and England. He didn't like the winter going in England, so we got the opportunty to buy him."

 

"HE'S A NICE horse," said Murphy "Overall, he's an uncomplicated horse. We'll think about the second novice race at Saratoga or the novice at Aqueduct. He'll be a novice until the end of the year, so we'll keep him in novice races."

"Gerard did a great job," said Murphy. "He was put on him at the 11th hour after Barry was hurt. He had never sat on the horse until I gave him a leg up in the paddock."

"I had very little to go on as he had only run once before over here," said Galligan. "Cyril gave me very specific directions."

"I thought they were going too fast up front," said Galligan."My horse traveled like a dream. I was surprised at how much he had left after the last fence. I didn't want to get out front too soon. It's along way from the last fence to the wire."

"When we got to the front, I just wanted to keep him going to the wire and hope no one catches us'," he said. "I was sorry to get the mount under those circumstances."

Murphy had previously saddled Belfast Banter to win the A.P. Smithwich G1 Stakes.