SARATOGA, N.Y.--Longshot Court Ruler, owned by Leipers Fork Steeplechasers, trained by Leslie Young and ridden by Tomas Garner, who ran second throughout the race, dug in to collar Global Freedom, trained by Ricky Hendriks, turning for home and went on to win the $48,000, 2 1/16 mile Allowance Steeplechase at Saratoga on Aug. 12.

Court Ruler leads Global Freedom, 1a, and Zoom Zoom Zoe, left, to the wire at Saratoga (Photo by Tod Marks)"I love it when a longshot pulls it off," said Young, who wasn't at Saratoga for the race.

Court Ruler was saddled by assistant trainer Jordon Thompson.

"My son wanted to go cubbing this morning, so I let Jordon take him up there," said Young.

 

"I GOT HIM in Ireland," said Young. "He'd run once there and pulled up because he bled. His trainer called me and said he thought he had a big engine, so I got him."

Lasix isn't allowed in Europe, but Young put him on lasix here and has run his three times with two wins and a second with no problems from bleeding.

"We've never had an issue since we put him on lasix," said Young. "Lasix is a great thing. It worries me that if they take that option away we'll lose a lot of horses that could have been successful."

"He won a maiden claiming at Pine Mountain last fall, and I thought he'd go on to be a timber horses, but Brian (Linehan, who rode him at Pine Mountain) said he thought Court Ruler could still win over hurdles. So we ran him at Great Meadow in June in a handicap and he was second, and now he's won at Saratoga."

"He's a fun horse and something to look forward to," said Young. "He really dug in and kept galloping. He was giving the filly, Zoom Zoom Zoe (the favorite who is trained by Jonathan Sheppard and was third by a 1/2 length) eight pounds."

Leipers Fork Steeplechasers is a syndicate that has just gotten into steeplechasing and now owns three horses with Young.

"Leiper Forks Steeplechasing is a new group in the sport," said Young. "This was their first win as a syndicate, and it was at Saratoga. They were really pleased."

Yound said she wasn't sure where she would run Court Ruler next.

""It's hard to bounce horses back, we'll see what options we have  in the fall," said Young. "Jordon said he cooled out well."