McDynamo makes it four in a row

A 9-year-old, McDynamo took over from Mauritania on the final run down the backstretch and galloped home to win by 22 lengths with jockey Jody Petty aboard. Chivite was second, and Mixed Up was third. McDynamo covered the 2 5/8 miles over soft turf in 5:58.20.

A two-time Eclipse winner trained by Sanna Hendriks, McDynamo earned $150,000 to pass Lonesome Glory atop the list of American steeplechasers in terms of career earnings. McDynamo has won $1,028,104 in his six seasons of steeplechasing.

"He does things so easily, it's weird," said Hendriks. "He doesn't look like he's working hard at all, and other horses struggle, especially in going like this. I guess that's what greatness is - it's horses who can put it all together that become this good. They have the right mind, the right body, the right everything."

McDynamo improved to 6 for 6 over the Far Hills course. Since winning his maiden here in 2001, McDynamo has added 12 more wins, including four Grade 1 scores in the Breeders' Cup.

Petty marveled at the ease with which McDynamo pulled away from the others down the backstretch.

"Mauritania looked like he was getting a little tired, so I figured we should go on," said Petty. "McDynamo just opened up his stride and went to the front. Then on the turn, I figured they were close to me. When I looked, we were so far in front I had to look again. He gets there so easily it amazes you."

The race lost some of its shine when 2004 Eclipse winner Hirapour was scratched because of the soft turf. The two title contenders could meet again in the Grade 1 Colonial Cup on Nov. 19 in Camden, S.C.