Flat zeroes, but hurdle heroes

ELMONT, N.Y. - When Mcdynamo and Anofferucantrefuse last raced at Belmont Park they were losers in flat races. On Thursday, they return as Grade 1 winners over jumps and are the main contenders in the $100,000-added Meadowbrook.

The Grade 1 Meadowbrook is the final leg of the steeplechase triple crown for novice jumpers. The series began with the Grade 1 Hard Scuffle at Churchill on May 2 and was followed by the Grade 1 Joe Aitcheson at Pimlico on May 17.

Ten jumpers entered the Meadowbrook, which will be run at 2 1/2 miles over 12 fences and is the finale on a nine-race card.

Mcdynamo has won three of four starts over jumps since switching from the flat, including a 2 1/4-length score in the 2 1/16-mile Hard Scuffle. Mcdynamo, owned by Michael Moran, the gelding's trainer when he raced on the flat, finished second in the 2 1/8-mile Aitcheson. Anofferucantrefuse controlled the pace and won the Aitcheson by two lengths.

Mcdynamo's trainer, Sanna Neilson, has had tremendous success in the steeplechase triple crown. In 2000, she won the first two races in the series with Pompeyo. Last year, Neilson won the Hard Scuffle and Meadowbrook with Praise the Prince.

Neilson said Mcdynamo has the potential to be as good.

"He really is a pretty efficient jumper," Neilson said. "He has a pretty high cruising speed and can quicken off that."

Neilson said Belmont's sweeping course and the Meadowbrook's 2 1/2 miles should suit Mcdynamo better than the tighter course and shorter distance at Pimlico in the Aitcheson.

Craig Thornton rides Mcdynamo, who drew post 6 and likely will be stalking the speed, Anofferucantrefuse and Storm Touch.

Anofferucantrefuse, trained by Tom Voss, carried his speed 2 3/8 miles last year when he won a handicap at Saratoga by 20 3/4 lengths. The Aitcheson was Anofferucantrefuse's stakes debut and his first race since his Saratoga win.

"He's doing as good, if not better, than he was for his first race back," said Voss, who also entered Equistar. "[Anofferucantrefuse] is a good galloping horse, so the distance shouldn't be a problem."