Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
New York Turf Writers Cup gets renamed for Sheppard
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – As part of his Hall of Fame career, trainer Jonathan Sheppard dominated the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase, winning the summer staple at Saratoga a remarkable 15 times.
Beginning this year, the race will now literally have his name on it.
The New York Racing Association and the National Steeplechase Association announced Friday that the New York Turf Writers will be renamed for Sheppard beginning with this year’s running on Aug. 19.
“It seems fitting that one of the premier steeplechase stakes in the country is going to be named in honor of Jonathan Sheppard,” Bill Gallo, the director of racing for the NSA, said in a press release. “He has been the dominant force in American steeplechase racing for decades and has always represented the sport in a positive way, particularly at Saratoga, where his success has gained national attention. We thank NYRA and the New York Turf Writers for honoring Jonathan in this fashion.”
His 15 New York Turf Writers Cup victories came as part of a 47-year stretch in which Sheppard won at least one race at a Saratoga meet.
“Jonathan Sheppard’s long and storied career, in particular his accomplishments at Saratoga Race Course, will be remembered for years to come,” said NYRA President and CEO Dave O’Rourke. “His decades of commitment and success within the sport make this a well-deserved honor.”
Tough week for Rodriguez
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez looks to be on his way to winning a fifth Aqueduct winter meet training title, but this has not been a pleasant week for the veteran conditioner.
On Wednesday, Rodriguez was putting the 3-year-old Hyperactive Chris through a workout when that horse broke down near the wire on the Belmont training track. Rodriguez was thrown hard to the track and said he felt some discomfort in his ribs, neck, and back. Unfortunately, Hyperactive Chris, who had finished second in his lone start, had to be euthanized.
“I’m a little beat up, but I’m okay, thank God,” Rodriguez said. “The horse never had anything wrong with him. Unbelievable.”
On Friday, Rodriguez said that Eagle Orb didn’t feel right coming off the training track following a routine gallop earlier that morning. Subsequent X-rays revealed a crack in a sesamoid, forcing the 3-yearold New York-bred out of Sunday’s $100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes and likely sidelining him indefinitely.
“This can be a tough game sometimes,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez entered Friday’s card with 29 wins at the Aqueduct winter meet, eight more than Linda Rice, to whom Rodriguez has finished second the last two winter meets.
Among the horses that have won for Rodriguez at this meet are Yankee Division and Wudda U Think Now, both of whom are in separate races on Sunday’s card.
On Feb. 13, Yankee Division won a New York-bred second-level allowance race by 6 1/2 lengths, earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure. Sunday, Yankee Division will run in a first-level allowance going 1 1/8 miles.
“He came out of the race very good, and we were thinking about taking him right away to a stake,” said Rodriguez, who has Yankee Division nominated to next week’s Haynesfield Stakes. “But I think this may be a better spot for him. Todd [Pletcher] has two horses in that race that look pretty solid.”
Pletcher sends out Bold Agenda, a maiden winner on Feb. 14 at Gulfstream going a mile. He also sends out Ajaaweed, who is coming out of an eighth-place finish in this condition going a mile at Gulfstream.
Wudda U Think Now runs in Sunday’s seventh, a New York-bred second-level allowance going a one-turn mile. Wudda U Think Now was fourth behind Yankee Division in that Feb. 13 race.
“We’re going to give him another chance on Sunday,” Rodriguez said. “Tell Trevor to put him on the lead . . . . Maybe last time we took the run away from him.”