A.P. SMITHWICK STEEPLECHASE RECAP: Thursday, August 5, 2010

Thursday, August 5, 2010

 

 

DIVINE FORTUNE MAKES HIS OWN LUCK IN A.P. SMITHWICK

 

By Jenny Kellner

 

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Divine Fortune tracked favored Slip Away to the final hurdle before grabbing the lead and going on to a three-quarter length victory over stablemate Arcadius Thursday afternoon in the 15^th running of the Grade 2, $75,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase at Saratoga Race Course.

 

Patiently ridden by Danielle Hodsdon, who took last year’s Smithwick aboard Mixed Up, the 7-year-old gelding completed the 2 1/6^th miles in 3:58.98 as he extended his 2010 record to 2-1-1 from four starts for Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard and owner William Pape.

 

“Danielle did give him a beautiful ride- the race didn’t unfold exactly as expected, with Slip Away on the lead like that, but I guess he had to go with no other speed horses in the race,” said Sheppard, now a five-time winner of the Smithwick.

 

 “Danielle always does very well when she can have her horse clear on the outside because she is very good at setting her horses up for the fences,” he added. “She timed the ride very well and got a great jump at the last. The other horse [Slip Away] fought back, but we had the best horse today.”

 

Following the first two past the wire were Slip Away, Planets Aligned, Dark Equation, The Price of Love, and Dr. Bloomer.

 

Part of an entry with The Price of Love, Divine Fortune returned $7.40 for a $2 win bet and earned $45,000. Having raced just once between November 3, 2007, and March 27, 2010, his record over hurdles now stands at 5-3-2 from 16 starts including a victory in an allowance race this spring.

 

“He missed almost two years so this is the first race we feel we’ve really gotten him back to form,” said Hodsdon. “It’s nice.”

 

Along with Arcadius, Divine Fortune will likely be pointed to the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers’ Cup on Thursday, August 26, said Sheppard.

 

 

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