Paradise's Boss Takes Charge in Smithwick Memorial

Mrs. Henry F. Stern's Paradise's Boss left no doubt about who was in charge Monday as the 5-year-old gelding stormed to the front after jumping the eighth fence and rolled to victory in the A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase (NSA-II) at Saratoga Racecourse.

Ridden by Xavier Aizpuru for trainer Jack Fisher, Paradise's Boss completed the 2 1/16 miles in 3:43.83 as he posted his third victory in a row. The son of That's Our Buck paid $10.60, $6.00, and $3.00. Serazzo finished second, 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner, and was worth $6.30 and $3.10. Hirapour, the 2004 steeplechase champion who was coming off a layoff of more than three months, paid $2.30 while finishing third.

The Smithwick marked the third win in five starts this year for Paradise's Boss.

"Earlier this year, we were disappointed with the way he ran," trainer Fisher noted. "He has always been a brilliant jumper... Obviously, he has that burst of acceleration and speed. He has gotten better with it and has learned to settled behind the front-runner."

Said jockey Xavier Aizpuru: "He's an absolute natural. He loves jumping. He epitomizes how a horse can enjoy what he's doing."

Bred in Florida by Juan Escobar, Paradise's Boss has won 10 of 22 career starts, with a record of seven wins in a dozen jump efforts.

(Chart, Equibase)