Winston C completes steeplechase double in New York Turf Writers Cup
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Not a significant weight concession, yielding turf, nor a jockey with a broken collarbone could prevent Winston C from winning Thursday’s Grade 1, $150,000 New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap Steeplechase at Saratoga.
Sixth of eight early on in the 2 3/8-miles race run over nine National fences, Winston C, under jockey Thomas Garner, won the Turf Writers by 8 ¾ lengths. Winston C demonstrated a closing kick similar to when he won the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick earlier this meet.
Gibralfaro got second by a nose over Belisarius in the Turf Writers.
Winston C became the first horse since Campanile in 1999 to win both the Smithwick and New York Turf Writers at the same meet.
It was also the 15th victory in the Turf Writers for Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard.
“It never gets old,” Sheppard said. “Each race is a new challenge. He obviously is a superior horse, I think.”
One of the reasons the Smithwick winner has a difficult time repeating in the Turf Writers Cup is due to a significant increase in weights. Winston C carried 144 pounds in the Smithwick. He carried 154 on Thursday, conceding 8 to 12 pounds to the rest of the field.
“He was able to overcome it actually fairly easily, I think,” Sheppard said. “He was just a tad closer earlier this time. Remember, we wondered if he was almost too far back last time. Probably a slower pace going the extra distance he was able to sit in a little bit closer contact to the leaders.”
Winston C, a gelding by Rip Van Winkle, covered the 2 3/8 miles in 4:38.16 over yielding turf and returned $3.10 as the 1-2 favorite.
Garner suffered a broken collarbone in a spill at Colonial Downs on Saturday night, but according to officials he was cleared by doctors to ride. Garner punched the air with his fist a couple of times as he crossed the finish line.
“It’s definitely something I’ve enjoyed, especially winning the two,” Garner said. “It’s all done by the horse. I was just a passenger.”
As for the broken collarbone, Garner said, “I think I’ll be taking a week off after this to recover.”