Zanjabeel won for the third time in five U.S. attempts while Modem was relegated to second, again, in Saturday’s $200,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois (G1) at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
Second in the first Grade 1 event of the season, the Colonial Cup (G1) in late March, as well as the Temple Gwathmey (G2) last month, Zanjabeel hooked Modem in upper stretch and drew off late to score convincingly under Ross Geraghty. Jamarjo ran third and Mr. Hot Stuff was fourth. The final time on firm ground was 5:36 2/5.
“I finally felt the horse was getting fit this year,” trainer Ricky Hendriks said. “Modem was coming in with no prep, so I thought we had a little advantage.”
Modem, who had inherited the lead racing down the backside the second time around the course after the leader, All the Way Jose, fell, earned runner-up honors for the fifth consecutive time since his importation last year. He also placed in the A.P. Smithwick Memorial (G1), New York Turf Writers Cup (G1), Lonesome Glory (G1), and Grand National (G1).
Hendricks said Zanjabeel would not race at Saratoga this summer and would instead be pointed for the Lonesome Glory at Belmont in September and the Grand National at Far Hills in October.
Winner of the Foxbrook Champion Hurdle at Far Hills and the AFLAC-sponsored Supreme Hurdle at Pine Mountain last fall following his importation, Zanjabeel was sold to Rosbrian Farm, Benjamin Griswold IV, and Wendy Griswold by trainer Gordon Elliott following the former victory.
Bred in Great Britain, Zanjabeel is a five-year-old son of Aussie Rules and out of the Machiavellian mare Grain Only, who has also reared Australian Group 3 winner Caravan Rolls On and the stakes-placed Gabrial’s Star. This extended female family also includes Irish Oaks (G1) winner Pure Grain.
