Xavier Aizpuru might not have been expecting much when he picked up the outside ride for trainer Johnathan Sheppard on John Law for the $75,000 Flatterer Steeplechase Stakes in Bensalem, Pa.

“I have ridden for Jonathan a couple of times with limited success,” Aizpuru said. “I figured since his jockeys were on his best horses I was riding the third strongest, but I will take a third-best horse out of the Sheppard barn any day.”

Aizpuru’s decision proved astute, as he and John Law, a 6-year-old son of Deputed Testamony, cruised home in front, besting a number of accomplished horses on July 28 at Philadelphia Park.
 
Limited to only Pennsylvania-bred horses, the race scratched down to seven entries. Bettors immediately went for William Pape’s Mixed Up, one of the three entries from the Sheppard barn.

Ridden by Danielle Hodsdon, the stakes horse has won more than $95,000 this year alone, including the grade I at Keeneland (Ky.) in April.

Sheppard’s second entry was a horse owned by him, Sparkled (James Slater). He asked Aizpuru to take the reins of his third entry, Melinda Bass’ John Law.

Top money exchanged hands for Beverley Steinman’s Dark Equation (Matt McCarron) who was coming off a win at Colonial Downs (Va.), making him the second favorite of the race. Even Kenneth Ramsey’s Party Airs (Cyril Murphy)—who has not won since Far Hills (N.J.) in November—had a few dollars placed his way.

As the flag fell, Party Airs took to the lead, dragging the rest of the field with him. Mixed Up appeared to get boxed in for the first couple of fences, and around the fourth fence he left early, climbing through the brush and unseating Hodsdon in the process.

Party Airs soon grew weary and Dark Equation and Sparkled challenged each other for the lead, but John Law was fresh and easily passed both of them. In the stretch, John Law came on strong, drawing away to win by more than 4 lengths. Dark Equation was second, Sparkled third and Party Airs hung on to place fourth.

“After Danielle came off the favorite, I knew I was going to have to watch Matt,” Aizpuru said. “His horse can come up pretty fast. At the last fence my horse was jumping really well and landed great, so I knew I had a good chance.”

This was one of two victories Aizpuru, 32, had in several days. On July 26, Aizpuru had a surprise win in the $68,000 optional claiming race with Arcadia Stable’s mare Footlights at the Saratoga meet in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Quite familiar with the horse, which he rides at trainer Jack Fisher’s stable, he thought he was sitting on one of the best contenders. However, the race-goers and handicappers completely overlooked the entry, putting her as the long shot of the race at more than 20-1.

Footlights wasn’t the only mare in the field. Linda Klein shipped Orchid Princess all the way from Kentucky, looking for a chance at a nice purse, and since fillies and mares get a cut in the weight, her stakes horse soon became a co-favorite with the Dapple Stable’s nod to Harry Potter madness, Gryffindor (Chip Miller).

From the get-go, Gryffindor made his presence known, speeding away with the start, leaving the rest some 8 lengths behind. Mark The Shark (William Dowling), who normally sets the pace, uncharacteristically was no threat to the leaders and pulled up.

It wasn’t until the last hurdle that Gryffindor showed any signs of slowing, and by that time, Hodsdon, riding Divine Fortune, had him in her sights. But Aizpuru knew Footlights likes a challenge, so he put her in the midst of it, and the granddaughter of Northern Baby did not disappoint.

Footlights dug in and needled her way past the two geldings, leaving Divine Fortune at second just under a length back. Gryffindor was third, and Richard Klein’s Cat’s Revenge was fourth. Footlights paid out a whopping $46.20 for the win for those who dared.

“She’s a pretty nice stakes horse,” Aizpuru said. “When I first saw how well Chip’s horse was going, I thought I might be able to get there and grab a piece of third. After the last, we landed so well and I thought
she might just be able to grind them down. That’s what she does. She loves a battle, so I gave her one.”

But Fisher is not going to have this win in the books. Due to a stabling conflict, Fisher let colleague Roger Horgan be the trainer of record for this race, giving him his first steeplechase trainer victory.

“It was a win-win situation for me. I got the horse a couple of weeks ago. I figured if she did well, that was great for me. If she didn’t I could say, ‘Well, I didn’t have her for that long,’” Horgan said laughing.

Tom Voss, Gryffindor’s trainer, was not as pleased with his horse’s performance at Saratoga. The horse is very hard to settle, which is one of the reasons Voss picked veteran Miller to sit on him.

“It’s his way or the highway with Gryffindor,” Voss grumbled, throwing up his hands.

Aizpuru’s wins have put him at the top of the National Steeplechase Association’s races won list, with 11 for the year. Riders Paddy Young and Carl Rafter are tied at 10 apiece, with McCarron in striking distance at nine.

Back In The Saddle At Colonial Downs
The sentimental favorite win for the week had to be the come-back of injured jockey Robbie Walsh at Colonial Downs on July 29 in the $15,000 allowance hurdle.

Walsh—who was in a horrific racing accident in April that left him with several serious fractures and three metal plates in his face—started riding again five weeks ago. Trainer Jack Fisher put Walsh on one of his own, Duke Of Earl, for his return and “The Duke” gave it his all.

Up against a good field which included Clorevia Farm’s Great Gusto (Jody Petty). The Duke, who is not much bigger than a pony, jumped his way toward the front of the race, hooking up with Great Gusto over the last. Walsh asked for just a little bit more and the little chestnut sped away, leaving Great Gusto 2 lengths behind him at the wire.

“I broke him, so I pretty much know him inside and out,” Walsh said of the horse. “Jack said ‘Take your time and make one run, that’s all he’s got.’ He’s a game little horse who likes to travel in behind. We had a couple of miscommunications early on so I just let him be. I figured I was still a bit rusty.”

Walsh said he did not do too much outside training other than physical therapy to get back in racing shape. “I’m not a good swimmer and don’t run much because my legs get too big with muscle,” the Irish native said. “I have been basically galloping as many horses as I can sit on every day. Once I got well enough to do that, I was on my way.”

Sarah L. Greenhalgh