Awakened lands Garner perfect send off in Jonathan Sheppard

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Thomas Garner plans to retire from steeplechase riding at the end of the year. Wednesday, at Saratoga, he gave himself quite the going-away present by guiding Awakened to a one-length victory in the Grade 1, $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard Steeplechase Stakes at Saratoga.

Awakened, trained by Jack Fisher, was coming out of a runner-up finish to McTigue in the Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes here Aug. 2. Garner said that 2 1/16-miles race was too short for Awakened, a 6-year-old gelding by Curlin who had previously run on the flats for trainer Shug McGaughey.

“When he ran in the novice, the trip was a bit short and he couldn’t keep going like he did,” Garner said. “This trip, he ran on and he ran all the way to the line and he probably could have gone on another half-mile. Jack, and the team at King Fisher Farm have done an amazing job. It’s nice to win the Jonathan Sheppard because Jonathan gave me my first Grade 1 winner on Winston C.

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It was in 2019 that Garner rode Winston C to victories for Sheppard in the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick and this race, which back then was known as the New York Turf Writers’ Cup.

Awakened was ninth of 10 early, saved ground to gain contention and was in the two-path in the stretch as he outfinished Jimmy P by one length. It was a neck back to McTigue, who defeated Awakened in the Kiser, and was the 5-2 Sheppard favorite.

Awakened returned $14.40 as the fourth choice. The official final time for the 2 3/8 miles was 4:32.51.

Awakened is owned by Riverdee Stable and Ten Strike Racing. Riverdee is the nom de course for Sean Clancy, a former steeplechase rider who now is the co-publisher of This Is Horseracing, an online outlet and also the Saratoga Special, a print publication distributed during the Saratoga meet.

Clancy won this race as a jockey in 1998 aboard Hokan for trainer Janet Elliot, the Hall of Fame trainer who was on hand to present the trophy on Wednesday.

Clancy said he watched from the Saratoga press box Awakened win a maiden flat race at Ellis Park in July 2021. Clancy then got a call from McGaughey who asked if he wanted the horse as a jumper because he was going to need time off.

“He just had some bone bruising, nothing major,” said Clancy, who said the horse was basically in a field for six months. “He’s just been perfect ever since. He’s a trier and he loves firm ground.”

Watching the race Wednesday, Fisher said “I thought he was too far back.”

Fisher won this race last year with Snap Decision. Fisher said he opted to point Snap Decision to the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory at Aqueduct on Sept. 14.

As for Garner, he plans to ride at Aqueduct. He said his last ride will be in the Velka Parovbicka, one of the most prestigious steeplechase events in the world held in the Czech Republic in October.

After that, Garner, 32, said he will focus on training, bloodstock and buying horses

“I’ve got a few horses at home, I’m married, it’s been on my mind for a while,” Garner said of retirement. “This is my favorite place to ride so it’s pretty emotional.”

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