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McDynamo was a 22-length, historic winner of the BC Steeplechase
(Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com) |
Two-time champion MCDYNAMO (Dynaformer) entered Saturday’s $250,000
Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase (NSA-G1) having made only two previous starts
this year. By the time the 2 5/8-mile, 14-fence event was over, history
had been made as the nine-year-old veteran posted his fourth consecutive
victory in the race.
With Jody Petty aboard, McDynamo was five lengths in front of his
nearest rival heading into the final turn and easily continued to extend
his margin from that point, eventually crossing under the wire a
22-length winner. Trained in Pennsylvania by Sanna Hendriks, McDynamo
stopped the clock in 5:58 1/5 over the soft Far Hills turf, and ran his
record over that course to a perfect six-for-six.
“He does things so easily, it’s weird,” Hendriks said. “He doesn’t
look like he’s working hard at all, and other horses struggle,
especially in going like this. I guess that’s what greatness is — it’s
horses who can put it all together that become this good. They have the
right mind, the right body, and the right everything. That’s what sets
McDynamo, Lonesome Glory and the others over time apart.”
McDynamo, who has now earned more than $1 million, passed Hall of Famer Lonesome Glory with this win to become
the all-time leading American steeplechaser in career earnings. Purchased by
owner Michael Moran for $82,000 as a Keeneland September yearling,
McDynamo won two races on the flat before switching to steeplechases. He
would go on to score victories in, among other things, the past three
editions of the Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase, the 2003 Royal Chase for the
Sport of Kings (NSA-G1) and the 2003 and 2005 editions of the Colonial
Cup Hurdle (NSA-G1). Prior to this race, McDynamo won the September 29
Somerset Medical Center Hurdle H. (NSA-G2) at the Meadowlands, and he
now owns a 30-15-6-1 career line.
Long shot Chivite (Ire) (Alhaarth) was best of the rest, with Mixed
Up (Carnivalay) a distant third. Mauritania (Trempolino) set the pace,
but couldn’t hold on to the lead when McDynamo began his run, settling
for fourth. Kilbeggan Lad (Ire) (Doyoun) left the course and Hirapour
(Ire) (Kahyasi) was scratched.
“Mauritania looked like he was getting a little tired, so I figured
we should go on,” Petty said after the easy win. “McDynamo just opened
up his stride and went to the front. Then on the turn, I figured they
were close to me. When I looked, we were so far in front I had to look
again. He gets there so easily it amazes you.”
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