10/19: Far Hills Steeplechase - in process

[Flatterer]

Steeplechase’s biggest day features 7 races and $850,000 in purses for the 99th running of The Far Hills Race meeting. Timber fences are gone so the New Jersey Hunt Cup is now a flat race.

Last year bettors pushed $353,000 through the windows with $210,000 bet on track. Handle should increase since a $0.50 pick 5 will be offered through NYRA with a 3:00pm post time that will start with Far Hills races 4, 5, 6 and end with Belmont races 9 and 10.

European trainers were complaining early this week that the ground was too hard. With over an inch of rain Wednesday followed by strong winds Thursday the track may still be too hard for the Europeans, so advantage goes to the US runners. For the Euros, the track condition would be listed as good to firm (gf), closer to firm.

The finish is an uphill run (10 feet in elevation) with a jump an 1/8 of a mile from the finish. 2 1/8 mile races are 4 turns with 11 fences. 2 ½ mile races are 5 turns with 13 fences. 2 5/8 mile races are 5 turns with 14 fences.

Race 1, The Gladstone features 3YOs with half the field coming back from a MSW race at Shawan Downs 9/28/19. For 4 of the last 5 years, The Gladstone winner’s previous race was the Shawan Downs MSW race. #3 Elfitz (Schoodic’s little brother - stakes winner over timber and brush) went wire to wire at Shawan and it looks like he’ll have company on the front end with #10 Must See The Doc. #10 Must See The Doc has a very strong 140 hurdle rating in England, which puts him on par with Novice Stakes winner Snap Decision. If #3 Elfitz and #10 Must See The Doc commit hari-kari on the front end, the best pressers / closers are #4 Fast Car, #7 Cotton House and #8 Thomas Cubitt.

A) 10
B) 3
C) 8-7-4

Race 2, The Harry Harris, is a new race restricted to 4YOs with a 3 pound penalty for each race won. #3 Caldbeck returns from his 2018 Gladstone win for trainer Ricky Hendricks with 2 nice prep flat runs. Ricky says #3 Caldbeck is primed for a big effort. #7 Cracker Factory is 160 pound high weight also has the top British handicap rating at 135. He was up the track against Snap Decision in the Entennman Novice stakes, losing by 12 lengths. #9 Galway Kid is the wildcard for trainer Sheppard, making his first start in the US after winning a point to point in Ireland. #2 Lethal Steps figures to run well for trainer Gordon Elliot and is the only challenger to #3 Caldbeck for the win. Leading rider Jack Doyle picks #5 Zanzi Win for trainer Hendricks over #8 Bodes Well and #5 Zanzi Win figures to run underneath in tris and supers.

A) 3-2
C) 9

Race 3, The Peapack, is restricted to fillies and mares. #6 Pravalaguna is head and shoulders above the rest of the runners and will be the shortest price of the day. She has been running against the boys in Ireland and was nominated for the featured Grand National, but trainer Mullins picked this easier spot. #6 Pravalaguna has a 141 hurdle rating in Ireland with 5 wins over jumps. Runners that can fill out the ticket underneath are #1 Down Royal, #2 Bercasa, #3 Cibourne and #5 Sarah Joyce.

A) 6

Race 4, The Foxbrook Novice, features #1 Snap Decision as he tries to extend his win streak to 4 and gives trainer Fisher his best chance for a win on the card. #6 Markhan was mugged in his last race at Saratoga and got a cut that took over 70 stiches to close. In fact, jockey Sean McDermott served a suspension for careless riding that contributed to #6 Markhan’s trouble. #6 Markhan healed quickly and is training well according to trainer Hendricks. #6 Markhan beat #1 Snap Decision in their only meeting at Nashville and now #6 Markhan gets a 6 pound weight break from #1 Snap Decision. #3 Days Without End the Irish invader runs well on firm turf, has 2 wins over hurdles and gets a weight break to 150 pounds after carrying 166 pounds in his last 2 starts. #8 Chief Justice ran well against #1 Snap Decision at Belmont and now gets an 11 pound break in weight. #5 City Dreamer and #7 Sportswear can run underneath in tris and supers.

A) 6-1
B) 3-8

Race 5 is a flat race that runs over the old timber course. There are some fast horses that like to win. #1 Renown is a flat stakes winner and has the highest speed rating with a 98 Beyer. #9 Aldous Snow is a graded stakes winner with a lifetime high 97 Beyer and runs for trainer Neil Morris who had 3 winners, including a flat winner, at Middleburg last Saturday. #8 Mutin has a 97 Beyer and won a stakes race in France. #3 Surprise Twist ran 2nd in track record time in the Cape Henlopen at Delaware in July over a baked turf course. #2 Decisive Triumph, #4 Douglas Road, #7 Lunaire can run underneath for tris and supers.

A) 1-9
B) 3-8

Race 6 is the featured Grand National, a weight for age race with a $450,000 purse that includes 5 runners making their first US start. The Europeans have no speed so it will be up to #9 Iranistan to set the pace with #2 Surprising Soul following closely behind. It will be difficult to open a lead large enough to hold off the late closing Europeans. However, the hard turf my sting the Europeans hooves just enough to neutralize their off the pace runs. None of the Europeans show form over good to firm or firm turf, adding intrigue to the handicapping puzzle. #3 The Storyteller has the highest steeplechase rating at 158, #6 Wicklow Brave has the highest hurdle rating at 156 and #8 Scorpiancer has the highest NSA rating at 152. At level weights, #8 Scorpiancer has the best late pace of the US runners.

A) 6-8
B) 2-3

Race 7 is a handicap that features a big 18 pound spread in weights. As a general rule, 1 pound in weight is equal to 1 length racing over 2 miles. . #6 Querry House carries 140 pound light weight and wheels back off 7 days rest after a good effort at Middleburg. #9 Stooshie will run strong but will finish underneath. #11 All the Way Jose gets class relief but 158 high weight and will be forwardly placed and should hit the board. #7 Kremlin gets 151 pounds and will try to go wire to wire. #7 Kremlin ran well at Far Hills back in 2017. #2 Khafayya can run underneath.

A) 6-7-11

Pick 5 selections
Leg A Far Hills R4) A: 6-1 , B: 3-8
Leg B Far Hills R5) A: 1-9 , B: 3-8
Leg C Far Hills R6) A: 6-8 , B: 2-3
Leg D Bel R9) A: 4
Leg E Bel R10) A: 1-9-10


Good luck at the races!!