Old Rivals Meet Again in Iroquois

[Wandering Eyes]

After 2 5/8 grueling miles, it took a photo finish picture to separate them in the G1 Grand National Hurdle S. last October. Mr. Hot Stuff (Tiznow) hit the line first by a nose, followed by hard-luck Modem (GB) (Motivator {GB}), who in turn was a nose ahead of All the Way Jose (Senor Swinger).

They will meet again Saturday when the jump-racing action moves to Nashville for the GI $200,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle S., this time for an even more grueling three miles. All starters carry 158 pounds on the sloping Percy Warner Park course.

Robert A. Kinsley’s Modem, the runner-up four times in Grade I races since his arrival in the U.S., was given the winter and much of the spring off. He will be making his first 2018 start for trainer Elizabeth Voss and will be ridden by Jack Doyle, currently the leading rider on the National Steeplechase Association circuit.

Buttonwood Farm’s All the Way and Gillian Johnston’s Mr. Hot Stuff, both Grade I winners prior to their New Jersey match in the Grand National, have each made one start this year and finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the GII Temple Gwathmey Hurdle H. in Virginia Apr. 21. Racing Hall of Fame member Jonathan Sheppard, who is currently leading the NSA trainer rankings, will saddle All the Way Jose, whom he bred. Darren Nagle, last year’s champion jockey by wins and close behind Doyle this year, will ride the 8-year-old Pennsylvania-bred.

Jack Fisher has imported top Irish jockey Danny Mullins for a repeat trip aboard Mr. Hot Stuff.

Fisher-trained Kremlin (Eskendreya), a maiden winner at Iroquois last year and a handicap winner Apr. 28 at the Queen’s Cup Steeplechase in North Carolina, likes the front end and can be expected to contest the early pace with All the Way Jose.

The youngster of the Iroquois field is Zanjabeel (GB) (Aussie Rules), who landed on American shores last fall and quickly won two stakes races for novices, or horses in their first seasons of racing over fences.

The 5-year-old, now owned by Rosbrian Farm and Wendy and Ben Griswold, has two second-place finishes this season, first in the GI Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup Hurdle S. and then in the Temple Gwathmey. Ricky Hendriks, currently second to Sheppard in the trainer standings, will put Ross Geraghty in the saddle.

Irv Naylor has had plenty of success in Nashville, most recently with Eclipse Award champion Rawnaq in the 2016 edition of the Iroquois and before that with Tax Ruling in 2010 and 2011.

He is taking two shots at this year’s Iroquois, with Grade III winner Jamarjo (Ire) (Marju {Ire}), who was fourth by 3 3/4 lengths in the Grand National; and Sempre Medici (Fr) (Medicean {GB}), who was pulled up in the Temple Gwathmey and made little impression when fifth in the G2 David Semmes Memorial Hurdle S. last Saturday in Virginia.

 

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