Ten Face Flag in Steeplechasing's Triple Crown Finale

• Email
• Print
• Tweet

A talented field of 10 was entered in the $100,000 Meadow Brook Stakes (NSA-I) to be run Thursday at Belmont Park. The 2 1/2-mile hurdle stakes concludes the 2002 Steeplechase Triple Crown. The Meadow Brook will be the ninth race on the day, with a post time of 5:12 p.m.

While the jumpers don't have a Triple Crown threat like War Emblem, they did produce several major contenders among a competitive group of young hurdle horses. The Meadow Brook field includes McDynamo, who won the series' first leg at Churchill Downs May 2; Anofferucantrefuse, who won the second stage at Pimlico May 17; and Najjm, who finished second to McDynamo at Churchill but skipped the Pimlico race.

Call the Meadow Brook a rubber match.

McDynamo demolished a good field in the Hard Scuffle Stakes (NSA-I) at Churchill - winning by two lengths after leading for the final mile and running his career steeplechase mark to 3-for-3. Fifteen days later at Pimlico, the 5-year-old son of Dynaformer couldn't catch Anofferucantrefuse and finished second - beaten two lengths in the Joe Aitcheson Stakes (NSA-I).

Anofferucantrefuse led at every step of the Aitcheson, equaling a course record and improving to 3-for-4 over hurdles. The 5-year-old won twice at Saratoga last summer. Ending an eight-month layoff at Pimlico, the son of Red Ransom simply galloped to the front and was never headed over the 2 1/8-mile distance.

The field in post position order: Cold Cat (Robert Walsh, 148); Sharp Face (Chip Miller, 151); Equistar (Cyril Murphy, 151); Najjm (Blythe Miller, 160); Dixie's Crown (Rob Massey, 148); McDynamo (Craig Thornton, 154); Storm Touch (Gus Brown, 148); Anofferucantrefuse (Roger Horgan, 154); Yonder (Jody Petty, 148); Geaux Beau (Ricky Hendriks, David Bentley, 138).

• Email
• Print
• Tweet