Noah And The Ark, Proven Innocent score upsets in steeplechase stakes
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Heavy favorites Snap Decision and The Mean Queen were both upset in steeplechase stakes Thursday at Aqueduct, but both are expected to continue on to a showdown in the Grade 1 Grand National on Oct. 15 at Far Hills.
In the Grade 1, $250,000 Lonesome Glory Steeplechase, Snap Decision, the 168-pound highweight, had no response when 41-1 shot Noah And the Ark, the 140-pound low weight under jockey Harrison Beswick, ran to and by him turning for home en route to a nine-length victory.
Snap Decision, a two-time Grade 1 winner this year, held second by three-quarters of a length over Ask Paddington.
Noah And The Ark was making his first start in 16 months, owning to tendonitis in both front legs, according to his trainer, Todd McKenna.
McKenna said he didn’t put the horse back in training until June and couldn’t find a suitable prep for this, so he chose to run him in the Lonesome Glory off the layoff.
“Was I surprised he caught Snap Decision? I guess so,” McKenna said. “Harry made the right move when he did. He made up a ton of ground the second to last time under the wire, and it was perfect because then he got the horse in a position to win it.”
Noah And The Ark, an 8-year-old Irish-bred gelding owned by Keystone Thoroughbreds, covered the 2 1/2 miles in 4:34.83 and returned $84.50.
“His jumping is just out of this world, he’s so quick,” Beswick said. “He’s always in my mind been a Grade 1 horse, but it’s just taken this amount of time to get to this stage and to have done that off the layoff that he’s had is a remarkable training feat.”
Noah And The Ark had to be saddled three times in the paddock. The first time, the wrong saddle was brought out. The second time, the correct saddle was brought out but it was put on before it had been properly checked in by the clerk of scales. So, while other horses – including Snap Decision – carried their weight in the walking ring, Noah And The Ark did not have weight on his back for a significant amount of time.
:: DRF Bets members get FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic. Join now!
Jack Fisher, the trainer of Snap Decision, said the 28-pound weight concession to Noah And The Ark was “too much weight.”
“He ran well,” Fisher added. “He’ll be tough in his next spot, a weight-for-age event.”
Fisher was referring to the Grand National, where Snap Decision will take on The Mean Queen, last year’s Eclipse Award-winning Steeplechase horse.
It was the Fisher-trained Proven Innocent, under Jamie Bargary, who ran down The Mean Queen by a head to win the $75,000 William Entenmann Novice Stakes, the race immediately preceding the Lonesome Glory. The Mean Queen finished 6 3/4 lengths clear of Howaybud.
The Mean Queen was making her first start since she beat Snap Decision by a half-length in last October’s Grand National. Thursday, The Mean Queen looked in control after taking over following the eighth fence, but, under Parker Hendriks, she was caught late by Proven Innocent who was coming off an allowance win at Saratoga and was carrying 149 pounds.
“That’s how he won at Saratoga too, he just got up at the last minute,” Fisher said. “I think what helped was [The Mean Queen] having had a lot of time off and coming back. It’s difficult.”
The Mean Queen got away last after the outrider was still in front of her when the race began.
“I was not happy that the outrider screwed us at the break,” said Keri Brion, trainer of The Mean Queen. “He came across the whole field and she got left. Otherwise, super proud of the mare, she ran a great race off an 11-month layoff. Obviously, you’d love to win. Jamie gave his horse a great ride, right at the line got her. If he would have come to her sooner, she would have fought back. But she was tired, she needed it.”
Proven Innocent, a 4-year-old gelding by Blame owned by Bruton Street-US, covered the 2 3/8 miles in 4:25.26 and returned $19 to win.