Good Night Shirt is Champion Chaser

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Photo: Coglianese Photos

Good Night Shirt wins the Eclipse and ushers in a new era in American steeplechasing.

Good Night Shirt, who won three out of five grade I starts last year, was honored Jan. 21 as the champion steeplechaser of 2007. The son of Concern, out of Hot Story (by Two Punch), defeated superstar McDynamo twice and set a single-season earnings record of $314,163 for owner Harold A. "Sonny" Via Jr. and trainer Jack Fisher.

Good Night Shirt first faced McDynamo, a three-time Eclipse champion, in the Iroquois Hurdle Stakes (NSA-I), which Good Night Shirt won by 5 1/4 lengths. McDynamo, 10, came back to even the score by taking the Breeders’ Cup Grand National (NSA-I) at Far Hills, NJ. The title came down to the season’s final grade I, the Colonial Cup at Camden, SC. Good Night Shirt proved the best again, winning the Colonial Cup by 2 1/4 lengths.

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