JONATHAN KISER NOVICE STAKES Kingsley honors late Kiser with stakes win
Former jockey saddles Show Court to victory in meet’s first steeplechase event
By David M. Johnson SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Archibald J. Kingsley Jr. rode with Jonathan Kiser, the late steeplechase jockey Saratoga’s Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes is named after. Since its inception, Kingsley has won the stakes named after his friend several times as a jockey, but never as a trainer.
That is, until Show Court made a strong move after the final jump to pull away from the field and take the Race 1 Wednesday at Sartoga Race Course. The $75,000 stakes was the first jump race of the meet.
“Jonathan, I love you, I miss you — It’s such a gift to win a race named after him,” Kingsley said in the winner’s circle. “I think of him all the time. He made me a better rider and certainly made life more fun when he was around.”
Show Court rated in fourth place for the first six jumps of the race before making a move after the seventh. Jockey Michael Mitchell asked him to go after the eighth and final jump and the Irishbred responded.
Show Court went three wide around the final turn but had enough momentum to catch the leader by the top of the stretch and pull away for a 1 3/4-length victory. He stopped the timer at 3:48.72 for the 2 1/16-mile race. Moscato was second and the favorite Surprising Soul was placed third after New Member was disqualified.
“His jumping was brilliant,” Mitchell said of Show Court. “There was a little bit of trouble coming around the last corner, just had to go a bit wide but it didn’t seem to matter. By then I had made my move, committed and committed.
“He’s been a good horse to me this year. It’s not me doing the job, it’s him. I’m very fortunate to be on him.”
Sow Court finished fifth, 33 1/2 lengths behind Surprising Soul in his previous steeplechase race May 17. After a layoff, Kingsley brought the 8-year-old gelding back to the U.S. for a 1 1/2-mile flat race July 8 at Parx. It was the perfect prep for the Jonathan Kiser and Show Court won by a nose.
“This was all by design,” Kingsley said. “Watching the whole thing unfold, was like, ‘Yeah that’s how I envisioned it.’ This race has particular significance to me. Jonathan Kiser was a dear friend of mine and we used to ride together. This is a race I try hard to win every year.”
Show Court improved to 6-4-3 in 28 lifetime starts in all races and 3-1-0 in eight steeplechase races. His lifetime earnings increased to $201,426.
The steeplechase stakes Show Court, whith Michael Mitchell up, get up to win the Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes steeplechase Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at Saratoga Race Course. will continue Thursday at the Spa with the Grade 1 $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial. It as the first card. is scheduled race on the