Familiar Cast Awaits Winston C in New York Turf Writers

Hudson River Farms' Winston C came to hand for Racing Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard and his Pennsylvania-based crew early in the summer, and he polished off a solid field in Saratoga Race Course's A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase Stakes (NSA-G1) July 25.

Making his second U.S. start in the Smithwick, the 5-year-old Rip Van Winkle gelding drew away late in Saratoga's stretch to win the 2 1/16-mile Smithwick by 3 1/2 lengths while giving every indication that he could win at a longer distance.

He will have that chance Aug. 22 when he starts in Saratoga's centerpiece steeplechase race, the New York Turf Writers Cup Hurdle Handicap (NSA-G1). He was assigned the 154-pound highweight for the 2 3/8-mile race on Saratoga's inner turf course.

His competition will be familiar, and he will be conceding them eight or more pounds. Seven of his eight expected opponents started in the Smithwick, and the eighth was an also-eligible for that race. 

Winston C had an indifferent flat career, but he found his calling over hurdles. He started on one of the lowest rungs, a maiden hurdle win at England's Wincanton Race Course Jan. 5, before climbing up to a novice-hurdle win at Sandown Park and a handicap win at Kelso in March.

In his final start for trainer Harry Fye, he finished fifth in Aintree's Betway Top Novices Hurdle S. on Grand National weekend in April. By then, he had caught the attention of Noel Fehily, who had ridden Winston C in his maiden victory a few weeks before the jockey's retirement.

Fehily had set up a bloodstock business with jockey Thomas Garner, who is currently riding in the United States. Garner talked to Sheppard and his staff, who in turn contacted Hudson River Farms owner Edward Swyer, an Albany, N.Y., developer and longtime client.

With the deal sealed, Winston C arrived in the U.S. in time to finish third in the Iroquois Steeplechase's $100,000 Marcellus Frost Champion Hurdle S. for novices, although he probably left himself too many lengths to make up but still finished just three-quarters of a length behind the winner.

He again was slow away from the flag fall in the Smithwick, but he quickened over the last while his opponents began to fade, led by a length at the furlong pole, and drew away through the stretch under Garner.

Jack Fisher, who is on the cusp of his fifth million-dollar season (no other trainer has achieved that seven-figure milestone), will saddle the horses most likely to pull off an upset of the highweight. Harold A. "Sonny" Via Jr.'s Hinterland finished third, and Riverdee Stable's Gibralfaro was fourth in the Smithwick. 

The Maryland-based trainer also will saddle Mrs. S. K. "Gill" Johnston Jr.'s Peppay Le Pugh, who was making his first U.S. start in the Smithwick and finished ninth. 

Elizabeth Voss, who won back-to-back editions of the New York Turf Writers in 2015 and 2016, also will saddle three starters, including the 2016 winner, Portrade, who was the also-eligible in the Smithwick and did not draw into that 12-horse field.

Voss will send out two Robert Kinsley horses who started in the Smithwick: No Wunder finished seventh, and 2017 New York Turf Writers runner-up Modem was 11th.