McTigue gets another chance in Leo O'Brien
?q=100)
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Entering last month’s Grade 1 Beverly Steinman Steeplechase here, trainer Cyril Murphy thought McTique was ready to give a performance reminiscent of three years ago when he won a novice stakes and finished a solid third in the Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard.
But McTigue’s race was over soon after the start, when he didn’t clear the first jump and unseated jockey Harrison Bewick. None the worse for wear, and with new rider Graham Watters in the saddle, McTigue is back to try again in Sunday’s Grade 1, $150,000 Leo O’Brien Steeplechase, the first event on a nine-race card at Saratoga.
The O’Brien, a race added to the calendar by the National Steeplechase Association, is named for the longtime New York-based trainer and former steeplechase jockey Leo O’Brien, who died in January at the age of 85.
McTique was off for 2 1/2 years when he returned in April in the Daniel Van Clief at Foxfield, where he finished sixth. McTigue gave an improved effort when third, beaten just four lengths, in the Green Pastures Stakes at Percy Warner.
Going into the Steinman, where McTigue was sent off at 5-1 odds, Murphy said, “If he matched that effort with some improvement, he’d be in the mix. It was disappointing he didn’t give us a chance to see where we are. My immediate concern after the race was whether we were going to have a physical issue.”
Murphy said McTigue got back into his regular routine and likes the fact McTique gets six pounds from Rocket One, runner-up in the Beverly Steinman, and 14 pounds from Fil Dor, a Group 1 winner last fall in Camden.
“For me, he’s got a live chance at the weights,” Murphy said. “That’s our biggest positive going into Sunday. At the weights, we belong with that group.”
Fil Dor, a seven-time winner over the jumps, is the 158-pound highweight based on his Colonial Cup victory last Nov. 23. In his lone start since, Fil Dor was beaten 2 1/4 lengths when fourth in the Grade 1 Iroquois going three miles at Percy Warner. Trainer Ricky Hendriks said the horse might not have been fit enough to go three miles off the layoff. He also would like to see his 8-year-old dictate terms on the front end under Jake Coen Sunday.
“If he doesn’t make the lead, he’ll be close,” said Hendriks, who also entered longshot Lynches Knock.
Rocket One, trained by Jack Fisher, has a win and four seconds in his last five starts. He had a 3 1/2-length lead in midstretch of the Steinman only to get run down by Jimmy P, who later this meet will seek a third victory in the Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard.
Merry Maker, who won the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory at Belmont in 2023, has only run three times since. In his first start in two years, he finished third in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Great Meadow in May.
St. James the Great, Take Your Seats, and Sweet Will complete the field.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.