Jack Fisher wins both steepechase races at Monmouth

Details: July 5, 2019; By SARA CAVANAGH

OCEANPORT, N.J.--Jack Fisher saddled the winners of both steeplechase races held at Monmouth Park on July 4.

jackfisheriroquois Jack Fisher (file photo)With those two wins, Fisher increased not only his lead in both Trainer, Races Won and Money Won categories but also Bruton Street-US' lead in Owner, Money Won and jockey Mike Mitchell's lead in both Rider, Money Won and Races Won.

Sheila Williams and Northwoods Stable's Not in Charge, ridden by Mitchell, won the first of the two races, a $30,000 Sport of Kings Maiden Hurdle at 2 1/16 miles.

Not in Charge led for almost the entire race and held off Jonathan Sheppard's Hepcat, ridden by Gerard Galligan, to win by 1 1/2 length in 3:51.32.

Not in Charge, a 5-year-old by Lemon Drop Kid out of a Danzig mare, raced 13 times on the flat, winning twice, once in an allowance race at Laurel, for his breeder and owner, Colts Neck Stables.

Switched to hurdles by Fisher, Not in Charge didn't finish at Charlotte on April 27 and was fourth in his second start at Fair Hill on May 25.

BOTH RACES at Monmouth were written for maidens, as horses must have won a race to be eligible to race at the upcoming Saratoga meet.

Bruton Street-US' Snap Decision, ridden by Willy McCarthy, won the second steeplechase at Monmouth, also a $30,000 Sport of Kings Maiden Hurdle at 2 1/16 miles.

Setting the pace throughout the race and opening up a clear lead, Snap Decision pulled away in the stretch for an impressive win by 4 1/2 lengths in 3:41.41 over Richard Cotton's Seeking Albert, ridden by Sean McDermott.

Snap Decision, by Hard Spun out of an Unbridled mare, was bred by Phipps Stable and ran 19 times on the flat in allowance and stakes races with two wins.

Monmouth was his third start over fences, having finished second in his first start at Charlotte on April 27 and then second by a head to Markhan (who most recently won in a flat race for steeplechase horses at Parx for Ricky Hendriks) at Nashville on May 11.

Fisher now has 24 wins from 76 starts and $804,450 to lead second placed Sheppard with seven wins from 37 starts and $192,600.

With such a lead, Fisher would probably be leading Trainer for the year without saddling another horse.

Bruton Street-Us has $285,250 with five wins from 26 starts to lead Mrs. S.K. Jphnston, who has six wins from 26 starts and $163,000.

Mitchell has 16 wins from 43 starts and $425,950 to lead McDermott, second in both categories with nine wins from 44 starts and $347,400.