WILMINGTON, Del.--Ricky Hendriks and Jonathan Sheppard won three races each while Graham Motion won two and Bernie Houghton one during the past three weeks.
Hendriks saddled two at Delaware Park and one at Penn National while Sheppard had two winners at Presques Isle and one at Parx, including his homebred Bet the Pot, who has now won two races in a row in his only two starts this year.
Both Hendriks and Sheppard are steeplechase trainers, but while Sheppard has always had top winners on flat, including Eclipse Awards winners, Hendriks has never in the past has had as many flat horses as he has now.
"I'm steeplechase all the way," said Hendriks. "It's in my blood. But between losing all the races this spring and now the steeplechase purses being cut back so much, we had to do something to keep going."
All three of Hendkiks most recent winners ran in the name of Debra E. Kachel, but almost all that run in her name are owned in partnership with Ricky's mother Wendy.
"IT JUST HAPPENED," said Henriks of getting so many flat horses. "People call me all the time wanting to sell me horses, so we just ended up buying some of them. We'll probably keep the over them over the winter and then convert them to steeplechasing."
These last three of Hendriks' winners have all improved greatly since moving into his barn.
Lexatoga won a $25,000, 1 1/16 mile Waiver Maiden Claiming turf race at Delaware Park by 3 3/4 lengths on July 27 in his third start.
A 3-year-old, Lexatoga was fifth in his first race last April for Calumet before being bought privately by Kachel, ran third for Hendriks on July 15 and then won at Delaware Park.
Alfred won a $23,500, 1 mile and 70 yards turf Claiming race by a head at Delaware on July 29.
Also a 3-year-old, Alfred had run six times before being bought privately and has since won twice for Hendriks.
"Alfred might have to go in an allowance race next time," said Hendriks.
Shady Lane Kitten won a $27,100, 1 mile an 70 yards turf Maiden Special Weight race at Penn National on July 31.
Kachel bought the 5-year-old Sandy Lane Kitten at auction in 2019 for $30,000 after he had run eight times without winning, and since has run twice for Hendriks before winning at Penn.
"We're going to give Shady Lane Kitten a couple of weeks rest now," said Hendriks.
Hendriks has Optimus Prime prepping for the G1 New York Turf Writers Stakes at Saratoga after finishing second to Snap Decision in the G1 Smithwick, coming up a bit short in his first start of 2020.
This spring was a disaster (for his steeplechase string)" said Hendriks. "The horses ran okay, but they just didn't win. It was very frustrating."
Optimus Prime is doing great," said Hendriks on Aug. 8. "He had a great gallop this morning. I have Markhan aimed for Allowance race at Saratoga on Aug. 12. "He's a really talented horse. He's the only horse that's beaten Snap Decision.
BET THE POT, bred, owned and trained by Sheppard, won for the second straight time this year on Aug. 3
The appropriately name 5-year-old by Lookin At Lucky out of Push My Luck won a $32.350. 1 1/8 mile turf Starter Optional Claiming race at Parx.
"He's a nice horse," said Sheppard. "He just misses that little bit of more speed. He's big, strong, strapping horse. We'll probably keep him on the flat through the fall and then convert him to jumping."
Sheppard's homebred Dawlish won a $14,000, 6 furlong Claiming race for Pa-bred fillies and mares at Presque Isle on Aug, 3
"Dawlish is out of Warm Glow, who was a minor stakes winner," said Sheppard. "She's got a bit of quality. We'll possibly run her over fences, but we already have a nice mare over fences in Penitence, and there aren't that many jumping races for mares."
Invigorating, owned by Buttonwood Farm, won a $17,950, 1 mile Maiden Claiming race by a head at Presque Isle on July 28 for Sheppard.
MOTION saddled Invincible Gal to win a $72,000. 5 1/2 furlong Maiden Special Weight race for fillies 2 years old at Saratoga on Aug. 7
Invigorating Gal swung three wide on the turn and got up in the last strides to win by 1/2 length.
Sweet Talking Girl won a $48,081, 1 mile turf Waiver Maiden Claiming race by 1 1/2 lengths at Laurel for Motion on July 30.
HOUGHTON trained his mother Betsy's Sylmar Farm's, Sacred Mountain, bred by Houghton, to win a $21,280, 6 furlong Claiming race at Penn National on Aug. 7.
Sacred Mountain swung thee wide on the turn, went to the front and held on gamely to win by a head.
