August 2, 2009. The Saratoga Special. Cup of Coffee. “You never know in horse racing,” he says. “Some people The Inexact Science. By Sean Clancy. seem to have a natural way of deciding the right way to go. You always have decisions, whether to work today or wait until Morning hasn’t really come yet. Brisk. Puddles glisten at next week, how slow or how fast.” the Oklahoma Annex. Tom Voss complains about the traffic Sheppard breezed Forever Together in a quick 57 3/5 sec- because of a 5K in town, it took half an hour to get to the barn. onds Wednesday. Did she go too far? Did she do too much, too Danielle Hodsdon walks Forever Together around the trees in fast? Who knows? front of Jonathan Sheppard’s barn. A girl and her pony. “I remember With Anticipation going over to the main Sheppard stands under the awning of his shedrow and track to breeze. It was three days before the (2002 Sword follows his champion; hat pulled down nearly over his eyes, Dancer), I was waiting at the three-eighths pole gap and I look a jacket bracing the cold and his mind wrestling instinct and up and there’s Bobby Frankel,” Sheppard says. “He had Denon fact. out there, he was running in the same race. He said, ‘is that Hodsdon puts Forever Together in her stall and Sheppard your big horse?’ I said ‘yes, who do you have out here?’ He takes the shank. said, ‘well, Denon.’ ” “You look nervous already,” a visitor says to the Hall of The questions continued – astute horsemen quizzing each Fame trainer. other. “I am nervous,” Sheppard says “I don’t think we’re going to Sheppard: “How far are you going?” run. We got a lot of rain and there’s a race for her at Arlington Frankel: “A half, how far are you going?” Par k .” Sheppard: “Five-eighths. I guess we’ll find out on Saturday The trainer’s juxtaposition – instinct and fact. who’s right.” A trainer’s life is about decisions and this one has Sheppard Frankel just smiled. atwitter. Sheppard follows that story with a rhetorical question. Sheppard houses one champion in his barn. She never lets “What is right and wrong?” him down, so he doesn’t want to let her down. She won three With Anticipation beat Denon a nose. Grade I stakes last year, good enough to become the train- “Do you think if he worked five-eighths and we worked a er’s first flat champion. He’s in the Hall of Fame because of half it would have made a difference?” Sheppard asks. “No- his prowess in steeplechasing; he’s working on reworking his body knows. It’s a very inexact science.” plaque. Sheppard has developed a heady crop of flat horses re- With that, he walks to his Audi station wagon and heads cently. Informed Decision, Winter View and Just As Well won back to the Annex, to make a few more decisions. stakes this year, Forever Together leads the squad. The Diana is still six hours away. She won the Diana on good turf last year. She won the Jen- ny Wiley on good turf at Keeneland this spring. Sheppard ran her at Woodbine last year on yielding turf. The bog came over August 2, 2009. The Saratoga Special. Calling Her Shot Sheppard’s shoes. She suffered her worst defeat (when racing (Forever Together repeats in Diana). By Brian Nadeau. on the turf) that day; she finished third, beaten 3 lengths. The bad news for everyone else in the Grade I Diana came Sheppard doesn’t want to do it again. Doesn’t want to do with just two simple words shortly after 9 Saturday morning. that to her again. But, here it is in the morning, the Grade I “We’re running,” trainer Jonathan Sheppard told owner Diana looms in 12 hours. The rain has stopped. Is that sun? George Strawbridge via telephone. Hours later, Sheppard walks the turf course with jockey Ju- From there, Forever Together’s nine opponents never had lien Leparoux and decides the grass feels more firm than he a chance. expected. He’s running. Saturday afternoon the 5-year-old mare, who used last By 11, after appearing on the OTB show on the main track year’s Diana as a springboard to a divisional championship, side, Sheppard seems less nervous. Not at ease, he’s never at used another electric stretch run to collar Carribean Sunset ease, but less nervous. He’s made a decision, the hard part over. late and repeat in the $500,000 turf stakes. At least until the second guessing starts if she doesn’t run well. “I met with (jockey) Julien Leparoux this morning at about Now, he sits and waits. Instinct and fact. 8:30 and we went out on the turf course over at the three- “She’s run on good to yielding before and it might be list- eighths pole,” Sheppard said. “I was worried about all the rain ed as good I suspect. I think it drains pretty good and I don’t we’ve had as Forever Together is not at her best over a soft think it will be a factor,” Sheppard says. “If we waited for the course, but we actually didn’t think it was that bad at all. We Beverly D and it rains out there, we’ve got nothing to fall back had the Beverly D. next weekend at Arlington Park as a backup on .” plan, so this morning was the key decision. We didn’t have to Sheppard mulls a rival trainer’s four-point argument for the run if we felt the course didn’t suit her.” Beverly D – bad post at Saratoga, bigger purse at Arlington, With course condition no longer an issue, Forever Together soft ground at Saratoga, weight-for-age in Chicago, a handicap took her customary position near the back of the field. Qui- here. et Meadow and Criticism sparred on the lead through honest Of course Sheppard knows all those. They’re part of the de- fractions and were tracked intently by Carribean Sunset and cision process. Rutherienne. Forever Together watched the proceedings from ninth while coiling for the stretch run. 1 Quiet Meadow cut the final corner with the lead, but was “I never thought it was too much. I would have liked to soon joined by Criticism, Colina Verde and Carribean Sunset. have the workout four days out instead of three but that’s all,” Rutherienne followed that move on the inside while Leparoux Sheppard said. “But I was a bit worried this morning because swung Forever Together wide for a clear run at the leaders. she was overly aggressive. She wasn’t washy but would take a Carribean Sunset surged to the lead at the eighth pole, but For- few steps back and then come charging ahead. Usually she’s a ever Together was in full flight. The daughter of Belong To Me bit more composed than that.” took the lead inside the sixteenth pole and looked poised to Once the race was at hand, Forever Together was all busi- draw off to an easy score when she eased up a bit in late stretch ness. She walked to the paddock with poise, her Breeders’ Cup and was credited with a head victory over Carribean Sunset fly sheet draped over her hulking shoulders. (Ramon Dominguez), with Rutherienne (Alan Garcia) third. Think Mike Tyson, white towel in tow – circa-1987. And “She waited a little bit on Carribean Sunset once she made another knockout. the lead, otherwise it would have been more comfortable,” Leparoux said. “But I also moved her a little earlier than usual July 31, 2010. The Saratoga Special. Once More (Forever because I didn’t want the leaders to get too far away from me.” Together tries to win third straight Diana). By Joe Clancy. After the race Sheppard marveled at Forever Together’s turf Julien Leparoux stopped on his morning tour of the Sara- record, which now reads six wins from nine starts, and earn- toga Race Course stable area to watch Forever Together train ings in excess of $2.3 million. one day this week. “For a horse to maintain that level for such a long period “She was beautiful, did everything they needed, she just of time is quite remarkable,” Sheppard said. “Obviously things trained,” the jockey said. don’t work out perfect every time; sometimes she gets in a bit of That wasn’t always the case. As a young horse, Forever To- trouble or she gets caught out wide but she just keeps doing it.” gether sometimes refused to train or even leave the barn. She It wasn’t always that way. fought with her riders, her groom, her trainer. She flashed abil- As a 3-year-old in 2007, she took the Grade II Forward Gal ity and speed, but she did the wrong thing more often than she over Gulfstream Park’s main track, but she lost her next four did the right. starts that year. She returned in February 2008 and ran a disap- “I feel badly about some of the ways we handled her when pointing fourth in an optional claimer at Gulfstream, putting she was younger,” trainer Jonathan Sheppard said. “We just Sheppard and his filly at a crossroads. thought she was a bit of a clown or a coward and needed to be “It got to the point where she wouldn’t train for us. She pushed on. We were wrong. It turned out she was highly intel- wouldn’t even move,” Sheppard said. “Looking back I actu- ligent, quite sensitive. We were making her do things, running ally feel horrible about it now. I would be throwing clods of behind her, throwing handfuls of dirt at her and yelling at her.” dirt at her or waving the shank at her just to try and get her Now 6, Forever Together of course put all of that behind her, to move. She obviously wasn’t happy for whatever reason but taught her people how to cope and blossomed into a champi- she’s just so intelligent and I’m thankful that she gave us a sec- on. She bids for an unprecedented third consecutive victory ond chance. Now we know what works and doesn’t work for in the Diana (Gr. I) for Sheppard and owner Augustin Stable her, but it took a little while to figure it all out.” – taking on six rivals in the $500,000 stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Turf helped. Forever Together made her first start on grass the Mellon Turf Course. The day’s ninth race drips with quality in Arlington Park’s Reluctant Guest Stakes in May 2008. She with Proviso, My Princess Jess, Phola, Shared Account, Maram rallied from seventh to win going away. After a troubled third and Dynaslew signed on but just one starter can make history. in the Grade I Just A Game at Belmont Park the following No horse has won three runnings of the stakes, first run in month, Sheppard aimed for the Diana. At more than 9-1, For- 1939. ever Together closed from last to win and start a run to the “Probably the only reason no horse has ever won it three championship. She added Grade I wins in the First Lady at times is because no horse has ever tried it three times,” said Keeneland and the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Sheppard. “They all get packed off to stud, which I’m not a Anita. big proponent of, as long as you take care of your horses. You The gray mare opened 2009 with an easy score in the Grade breed your horses to race them and to have fun.” II Jenny Wiley at Keeneland before finishing a fast-closing sec- Forever Together has provided plenty of the latter, rising ond to Diamondrella in the Just A Game over a yielding course from 44-1 shot in the 2008 Just A Game Stakes to a champion, at Belmont Park June 6. multiple Grade I winner and earner of more than $2.8 million. Sheppard may have been slightly disappointed with the She’s finished first, second or third in 19 of her 22 career starts run, but he knew the ground had as much to do with the loss (including the last 14). Purchased via consultants EQB at Oca- as did Diamondrella, who won for her sixth consecutive race. la Breeders’ Sales as a 2-year-old, Forever Together started out The trainer brushed off the loss and aimed for a Diana repeat. as a speedster – breaking her maiden at 2 in November and Wednesday, Forever Together put in her final preparations winning two sprint stakes at 3. with an eye-popping 5-furlong work in 57 3/5 seconds over Back then, she tested Sheppard and anyone who tried to the Oklahoma turf course. The move made headlines, but ride her in the mornings. The trainer knew the talent was Sheppard (who makes Obi-Wan Kenobi sound like a novice) there, but couldn’t harness it. Frustration in the barn turned never worried. At least about the workout. to losses on the track. 2 “She had stopped sweating which we didn’t pick up on as The transformation was gradual and came with better soon as we probably should have,” Sheppard said. “I just think behavior in the mornings, some different treatment for the she was sure she wasn’t going to be comfortable when she sweating issue (including a little Guinness now and then), pa- trained so she stopped doing it.” tience from assistants Danielle Hodsdon and Barry Wiseman After a three-month break from racing in early 2008, Shep- – and simple maturity. pard tried his filly on turf and she won a minor stakes at Ar- “A lot of it is we are managing her better because we know lington Park. The trainer moved on to the 1-mile Just A Game her better,” Sheppard said. “She’s very happy now. (Thursday) at Belmont Park in early June and Forever Together finished morning Dani went to get on her in the walking ring. She took third at 44-1. off she was so anxious to go to the track. Three years ago, we The 2008 Diana was her next start. might have had a fight just to get her out of the walking ring.” Sent off a 9-1, she rallied from last to win by three-quarters And for another Diana encore? of a length – closing so quickly that Kent Desormeaux (aboard “She’s on top of her game and that justifies keeping her in runner-up Dynaforce) nearly threw his whip away in disgust training and coming back for a third year,” Sheppard said. “It’s at the wire. Forever Together springboarded to an Eclipse always race by race, you never know what’s around the corner Award as champion Turf Female. but so far you can’t take much away from her.” “I got off her that day and said she was going to win the Breeders’ Cup,” said Leparoux of his first ride aboard the Ken- August 6, 2010. The Saratoga Special. Good Fortune tucky-bred. “She felt that good to me.” (Divine Fortune wins Smithwick for Pape, Sheppard). Forever Together did indeed win the Breeders’ Cup Filly By Joe Clancy and Mare Turf that fall and began a sustained run of excel- While not quite Walter Matthau and George Burns, Bill lence. She came back for the 2009 Diana as the reigning queen, Pape and Jonathan Sheppard could probably star in a mov- but needed every inch of the 9 furlongs to beat Carribean Sun- ie or at least do a bit together. The owner and trainer know set by a head. Thanks to heavy rain the week of the race, Shep- each other’s moods. They finish each other’s sentences. They’ve pard sweated the decision to run – finally opting to go after been together forever. And the one-liners just keep rolling. walking part of the course with Leparoux at 8:30 the morning “The biggest problem I have is reminding Jonathan what of the race. day it is, and he reminds me,” Pape deadpanned after winning “We’re always worrying about something and it was the yet another steeplechase race Thursday at Saratoga. rain last year,” Sheppard said. “We were fretting and trying to “He’s a piece of work, this one,” Sheppard said, elbowing his make up our minds and she came through for us again.” longtime client turned friend in the ribs. She didn’t parlay the Diana win into a championship, but Pape, nearly 80, and Sheppard, nearly 70, won Thursday’s did finish third in the Breeders’ Cup (behind European star A.P. Smithwick, a $75,000 Grade II stakes, with homebred Midday and Pure Clan). Her connections called the race For- Divine Fortune. The 7-year-old chestnut, a winner over the ever Together’s last – until they decided it wasn’t. course in 2007, returned from a two-year layoff last fall and Putting a broodmare career on hold, Forever Together went inched through a campaign this spring/summer. The return back into training and opened her 2010 campaign with a sec- culminated in the Smithwick, Pape’s fourth and Sheppard’s ond in the Grade II Jenny Wiley at Keeneland. She followed 11th. that with another second, this time to budding star Tuscan “We’ve just been so lucky and of course you can’t underes- Evening, in Hollywood Park’s Grade I Gamely in late May. timate the man that trains them,” Pape said. “I’m just along for He’s not satisfied with seconds, but Sheppard won’t quibble the ride, and he provides a great trip. We have no intentions of with his mare’s performances this year. She’s keeping stellar retiring. We’ve been doing it 40 years and we have eight mares company and cranking out quality efforts. in foal so we’re planning four years out now – the power of “I feel very blessed to be in this position regardless of where positive thinking, right?” she finishes,” he said. “Just to have a horse at the age of 6 that Divine Fortune provided proof of the plan, rallying in deep can still be a contender at that level. If you’re 1-2-3 in Group stretch to catch stubborn pacesetter Slip Away and outkicking ones and twos, that’s fine. You belong. She’s established her- the Sheppard-trained Arcadius to win by three-quarters of a self as a 6-year-old as a top horse regardless of what happens length in 3:58.98 for 2 1/16 miles. Saturday. She just finished second to probably the best filly or Even-money favorite Slip Away set a leisurely pace and mare turf horse in the country.” threatened to stay there for every step with bold jumping and a Leparoux missed that race (Rajiv Maragh substituted) resolute gallop. Divine Fortune (Danielle Hodsdon) set up in a while recovering from an injury, but knows what to expect second, 5 lengths off the lead and clear of the five others. With from Forever Together this time around. a circuit remaining, the winner blundered through the sixth “The first year, I didn’t know her at all and they were wor- fence but gathered himself and went back to work stalking Slip ried she was going to be too rank so I had to be last to make Away. A strong jump at the seventh and another one at the her relax,” said the jockey. “Last year, she could still be a little eighth set up the race’s final quarter-mile. Divine Fortune went bit that way but she was better. I used to have to take her back, to work, got to Slip Away at the last and prevailed as the 5-2 now I let her do whatever she wants. I could be second or third second choice (with entrymate The Price Of Love). Arcadius and I wouldn’t be scared about it.” took second from Slip Away by a head. 3 Hodsdon said her horse recovered quickly from the mis- lead and Romp tracking him. Turning for home, Divine For- take at the sixth. tune hugged the rail as Romp eased into his striking range. “I asked him something a little bit ridiculous, he corrected Hodsdon and Albarado asked them to finish; no whips, no himself really well, as soon as he refilled the bridle, I just kept elbows, simply cues to go on and go. That’s the way they fin- him on it and he was fine, he over-jumped the next one, that’s ished, Divine Fortune a neck in front of Romp. all,” she said. “I knew as soon as he got one, he’d be OK. The Hodsdon yelled at Albarado to gallop out in front. Romp’s last came up ears went up as soon as he made the lead. the same, that long one, I said, ‘There’s no way I should ask Clockers caught them going three quarters of a mile. Di- for that, I really don’t want to put him on the deck here.’ I saw vine Fortune in 1:12.20. Romp in 1:12.60. Sheppard said they this beautiful long spot, but I thought if I don’t get this I’m caught the gallop-out time, he called it a 5-furlong breeze. screwed, I better sit still. He would have gotten up easier if I Sheppard lost concentration on his watch when someone had gotten that spot.” started talking to him, but he figures they went in 58 and Sheppard missed the jumping mistake, but winced while change. Hodsdon knew they went fast. Albarado thought they watching the replay. went perfectly. “Oh no, he put in an extra (stride), he nearly fell. I’m glad Seventy-five hours later, Divine Fortune won the A.P. I didn’t see it,” Sheppard said. “I saw him take off, but I didn’t Smithwick. A day later, Romp was set to run in the John’s Call see him land because I wanted to watch our other two. I heard but was excluded from the over-filled stakes. Tom Durkin say there was a miscue, but I just saw it out of the Albarado liked what he saw in front of him and what he felt corner of my eye. A lot of times that can stop a horse. He was beneath him. pretty brave to get back into it.” “I couldn’t tell you he was a jumper, I thought he was a very A rangy son of Royal Anthem, Divine Fortune followed a good flat horse,” Albarado said of Divine Fortune. “He worked similar Sheppard career path – three flat starts, then three hur- really good. I said, ‘Dani, who’s that?’ She said, ‘I’m on him in dle runs as a 3-year-old in 2006; maiden hurdle and maiden a few days.’ I said, ‘Really?’ Nice work, nice horse. Just off the flat wins at 4; hurdle wins at Saratoga and the Meadowlands bridle, dangling the reins, she squeezed him, then yelled at me later that year. Expectations rose, but the budding star went to to gallop out. We came back and she said he was a good jump- the sidelines with a bowed tendon and missed two years. er. I liked the work.” Hodsdon missed him. So did Hodsdon and Sheppard. “I just think if all his starts had continued in succes- The jockey/trainer have perfected this breeze. Sheppard sion from his 4-year-old year, he would have been any type likes to tune up his horses in their final work before they run. of horse,” she said. “But, hey, he’s back. Knock on wood, he’s Whether they’re jumpers or flat horses – Forever Together or sound and happy.” Divine Fortune – Sheppard needs wind in their sails. Divine Fortune returned last November, and finished fifth “I know everybody else might not, but I like a fast final behind Slip Away in an open stakes. The real work started this work. Some other people like to give a hard one two weeks spring with a second in the Carolina Cup (Gr. II), an allowance out, an easier work one week out; that’s what (Steve) Asmus- win and a third in a Grade III in May. Two months of rest end- sen seems to do. Al Stall with Blame, he’s done nothing with ed with an easy fourth at Colonial Downs July 11. him. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night. Maybe that’s the way Next came the Smithwick, after a sharp workout over the he’s always trained, I don’t know,” said Sheppard who was not Oklahoma turf course Aug. 2. Meant for 5 furlongs, the work criticizing any of his fellow trainers. “I’m a little more like Bob was clocked for 6 (1:12 1/5) thanks to a strong gallop-out and Baffert. I like a nice bullet work. I always have. It’s whatever produced a ready horse three days later. your horse is used to but that works for me. My horses are used “A work like that gets him pumped, so he’s ready and he’s in to increasing the momentum – medium, fairly fast, rock on. the bridle,” Sheppard said. “He knows it’s a race. He knows he’s They know that means it’s time.” got to go to work. At Colonial, he was off the bridle, the reins Hodsdon has the controls whether it’s Forever Together were dangling halfway through the race. I said that we needed prepping for the Diana or Divine Fortune readying for the a good sharp work before this race. He got it.” Smithwick. You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. Forever Additional reporting by Sean Clancy. Together went five eighths in 59.60 five days before the Diana. By Hodsdon’s and Sheppard’s count, Divine Fortune went as August 10, 2010. The Saratoga Special. Cup Of Coffee. fast or faster. Hard to believe, a horse prepping to go 2 miles Perfect Practice. By Sean Clancy. would post basically the same speed. Hodsdon isn’t surprised. It was a good work. A good work for any horse. For a jump- “We give them a flat-horse type of breeze. They know. Ev- er, it was go-to-the-window good. ery one of them knows, this is it. They’re smart. This horse Monday morning on the turf, Divine Fortune and Danielle is meant to go in 1:03. I was pretty thrilled with his work,” Hodsdon led Romp and Robby Albarado through a wicked Hodsdon said after winning the Smithwick. “Sometimes I feel 5-furlong breeze. The leader is – well, would become – a Grade like why don’t we do our hardest work two out, but mentally II stakes horse, over jumps. The follower is a Grade II stakes that’s what gets them there. Walking back to the barn, I didn’t horse, on the flat. The Jonathan Sheppard duo made a good, feel like it had taken too much out of him, he was walking back long run at the pole with Divine Fortune rolling along on the like it was nothing. Our horses bounce out of a work like that.” 4 Seventy-five horses breezed on the turf Monday. One went haled Swagger Stick and held off Arcadius to win by a length. three eighths of a mile. Most went a half. Some went five The game Swagger Stick lasted for third. The first five finished eighths. within 2 1/2 lengths of each other. Sermon Of Love completed Four went three quarters of a mile. Like pellets out of a gun. 2 3/8 miles in 4:36.83. John’s Call hopeful Dry Martini zipped 5 furlongs in 59.50. Crowley, who had won one race from just nine rides all Belmont maiden winner La Cloche put in a maintenance year, earned his third triumph at the meet with another defin- 1:01. itive display. Turf stakes horse Expansion went 1:02. Prince Will I Am “I was delighted the whole way, he traveled well, jumped scorched a half in 46.2. great the whole way, had a clear view of the fences and the Only one of them was tuned like a guitar for the first race obstacles,” Crowley said. “I was delighted turning into the Thursday afternoon. straight, if nothing came from behind I had the race at my “I turned this horse out (Thursday) morning and he was mercy. It’s mind blowing, to ride three winners and a second squealing, dropping down and rolling, jumping up, squealing from four rides. I rode a nice few winners at home in Ireland and bucking in place, he didn’t even know what to do with and England but this is all smiles. There are so many people himself,” Hodsdon said after the Smithwick. “It’s nice to see to thank.” them like that, then you’re hoping you can get them to the pad- The victory completed a reclamation project for Sermon dock and the pre-race without losing it. That’s the best run-on Of Love that started with an upset win in the Jonathan Kiser finish he’s had, he usually hits that top speed and flattens out.” opening week. Equipped with blinkers, united with Crowley Had to be the work. for the first time and sent off at 11-1 in the restricted stakes, Sermon Of Love overtook Virginia Minstrel to win his third August 31, 2010. The Saratoga Special. Tending His race over hurdles, breaking a five-race losing streak in the pro- Flock (Sermon Of Love wins Turf Writers). By Sean Clancy cess. And that makes 13. “I’ve never thought of him as really a top horse, more a Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard choreographed his mid-division horse, he is quite fast, he does work as well as 13th win in the New York Turf Writers Cup when he sent out any of our other jumpers, possibly even better,” Sheppard said. Bill Pape’s Sermon Of Love to win the Grade I Saratoga stee- “He’s not particularly big, he’s a little washy, and not a hundred plechase. Sheppard trained runner-up Arcadius as well. percent genuine, the blinkers helped and the rider is on fire. Sheppard isn’t perfect; his other entry, A.P. Smithwick win- The blinkers were (Hodsdon’s) idea, she schooled him in them ner Divine Fortune, finished fourth. over the baby hurdles in Camden (S.C.) and thought they Coupled with Divine Fortune, the winner paid $4.30 as the moved him up a little.” favorite. After the Kiser, Sheppard sent the son of Pulpit to the farm. “You could probably run the race in three weeks and our Smithwick runners Divine Fortune and Arcadius followed af- three horses might finish in a different order,” Sheppard said ter their race a week later. With four weeks between the Kiser as he walked out of the winner’s circle. and Turf Writers, Sheppard let down Sermon Of Love who If you’re counting at home, Sheppard and Pape have won all stayed home when Divine Fortune returned to the Spa a week four jump races this season. Next week will be five. before the Turf Writers. While his stablemate and rival put in Brian Crowley broke Sermon Of Love sharply from the his final preps over the Oklahoma track, Sermon Of Love went starter’s flag and led for the first few strides before finding a the traditional route. perfect window in fourth, just off longshot Swagger Stick who Sheppard ordered a 2-mile tune-up in the “100-acre field” led the compact field through tepid opening furlongs. Smith- at the farm near West Grove, Pa. Exercise rider Frank Steall led wick winner Divine Fortune, who raced close to the pace in his the way on Arcadius, Crowley followed on Sermon Of Love. victory, lagged in last after one flight. “Arcadius led and Sermon Of Love came to him and fin- Passing the wire for the first time, Swagger Stick led Birth- ished at his shoulder. That’s what I asked them to do and ac- day Beau with Slip Away tucked inside third. Sermon Of Love cording to (assistant) Jim Bergen, that’s exactly what they did, led the second tier, on his own in fourth. Second-choice Ar- not incredibly fast. Arcadius isn’t quite as speedy in work as cadius erred at the third hurdle, losing valuable position and Sermon, we always make the one coming from behind do a lit- found himself in the back of the eight-horse field. tle more,” Sheppard said. “We time them the last five-eighths, Turning down the backside for the final time, Hodsdon well, I don’t know how far it is, we time them from a pole up moved Divine Fortune five wide but the Smithwick winner on the hill to a tree when they come back up the hill, a good made a mistake at the first fence down the backside, costing work is somewhere in a minute, they go about 2 miles (total), time and position at a moment when both were paramount. we start off at a hand canter, after about the first three-quarters Crowley bided his time on the inside, still patient aboard we pick it up to a two-minute lick and then they rock on the Sermon Of Love. Leaving the backside, Crowley positioned last five-eighths.” himself outside Slip Away as the field turned for home. Ser- The work seemed to suit as the duo finished one-two for mon Of Love swung out for the last and met it on a perfect the meet’s most prestigious jump prize. Sheppard was pleased stride, touching down with only Swagger Stick to catch. Five with that work but dismayed with the one he engineered at horses jumped the last within a length. Sermon Of Love in- Saratoga when Divine Fortune crawled through a half-mile 5 breeze on the dirt Monday. Unable to work on the turf because “People talk about the layoff, I did think he was fit enough of rain, Sheppard audibled and tried to prime Divine Fortune especially with the race at the Open House, but with the lack for his best, but was convinced the work left him too dull to of an actual race over jumps – what do they call it, ring rusty?” excel in the race. Sheppard said as he walked into the paddock to saddle Royal “I wish we didn’t have such a slow work on Monday with Rossi. “You always wonder about that but as far as fitness, he Divine Fortune, because he was just a little flat early, he needs had been in training for a long time and he was obviously fit to be in the clear and closer, he was too far back and tucked for the Open House but there are always a lot of unknowns in on the inside, he ran a pretty darn game race considering all a race like this.” that,” Sheppard said. “Arcadius ran a good race considering I Sheppard has always been the one known element when it almost didn’t enter him, he was dead lame when he came in comes to Saratoga and Crowley has quickly joined him. from schooling on Friday. It’s stressful, you have to take a shot, The trainer used Crowley to guide three of his four winners we aren’t going to pass up a chance with one of the favorites for last year and with Danielle Hodsdon injured this year, Crow- the Turf Writers, if it’s a minor possibility. Now, you know why ley deputized well again. He’s won five of the past eight races I don’t have any hair left.” at Saratoga. Aboard for the first time in a jump race, Crowley Sheppard doesn’t have any room on his mantel either. Next was impressed by Divine Fortune. year will be 14. “He jumped, he traveled, he never missed a beat at any any jump,” Crowley said. “Turning down the backside I knew I had August 5, 2011. The Saratoga Special. Doubly Divine Ross because I was just cantering, I didn’t meet the last in a (Divine Fortune repeats in Smithwick). By Sean Clancy. perfect stride but I knew he’s a horse with a plenty of gears.” And the beat goes on. Jonathan Sheppard won four of five Sheppard sharpened those gears with a quick breeze over steeplechase races at Saratoga last summer. The Hall of Famer the Oklahoma turf Monday, zipping 5 furlongs in 1:01.44, has won two of three so far this meet, sweeping Thursday’s all- ninth fastest of 32 at the distance. The 8-year-old 2-mile spe- jump daily double with Bill Pape’s Divine Fortune and Hudson cialist outworked the likes of Banrock, Lime Rickey and Pre- River Farm’s Royal Rossi. Brian Crowley guided both winners, mium Gold. And the tuning of another Sheppard returnee was continuing his skein of Saratoga winners as well. complete. Divine Fortune relaxed well off the pace, gradually crept “I figured Saratoga, it’s logical, that’s where the big races are, closer and reeled in pacesetter Decoy Daddy after the last hur- it seemed like the right thing to do,” Sheppard said of his 2011 dle to score by 2 lengths in the opener, the $75,000 A.P. Smith- plan for Divine Fortune. “According to my vet he bowed (after wick Memorial. Nationbuilder, also trained by Sheppard, Saratoga last year), it was down at the back of the ankle but I closed to be third. Champion Slip Away faded to fourth, after don’t really call those bows, he always says it’s as bad but I can leading for the middle part of the 2 1/16-mile race. never tell which is the sesamoidal ligaments and which is the Crowley guided Divine Fortune, a homebred son of Royal tendon back there, they run over the top of each other. My vet Anthem who won for the sixth time over hurdles and third said he had damaged his tendon at the back of his pastern, not time at Saratoga. Bred by Bill Pape and Sheppard, Divine For- a major one, but enough that he had to treat it as though it was tune won the Smithwick last year, ran once more at the meet a regular bow.” and retreated back into Sheppard’s farm string – 364 days and In steeplechasing, bows come with the territory and Shep- a bowed tendon later – he returned to win the Grade II stakes. pard simply put him on the back burner. Remember, Saratoga Sheppard prepped the rangy chestnut in a training flat race only comes once a year, plenty of time to heal a bowed tendon. at the Open House July 17, finishing second to Dynaski who “A cheap claimer, you probably would have hoped for the never traveled or jumped in the Smithwick, winding up fifth, best. But for a jumper he’s a relatively young horse, he’s a really, beaten more than 40 lengths. really nice horse. I’ve always liked this horse,” Sheppard said. Ross Geraghty sent Decoy Daddy, a two-time winner this “I’d have to look at my books to see when we started him back spring, to the front from the start, opening a clear lead over the up, those older horses coming off an injury, we like to give first three hurdles before Slip Away took over, trying to steal them anywhere from six to eight weeks of jogging, instead of some of the closers’ kick by turning up the pace. the usual three or four, we give them quite a bit extra, all the Crowley settled Divine Fortune in fourth, well off the pace, trotting is good for the blood circulation, which helps to con- but always traveling smoothly and jumping accurately. Decoy tinue the healing of the injury.” Daddy retook the lead as the field hit the backstretch the final time, swarming Slip Away at the third-last hurdle, as Divine August 23, 2013. The Saratoga Special. Per Cent’Anni Fortune lurked like a prowler, edging closer the entire trip. (Italian Wedding wins Turf Writers). By Joe and Sean Clancy. Decoy Daddy led around the turn, over the last (flying it while While watching two young horses school in the starting Divine Fortune met it on a short hop) but finally succumbed gate Wednesday morning, Jonathan Sheppard contemplated to Divine Fortune’s relentless rally. his runners for the $150,000 New York Turf Writers Cup and Divine Fortune finished 2 1/16 miles in 3:49.2, nine sec- – while not overlooking Italian Wedding – put the hard-try- onds faster than last year. ing chestnut behind bigger names Divine Fortune and Martini Sheppard admitted to being confident in the horse’s fitness Brother in the synopsis. and hesitant about his chance of winning. That’s Sheppard. Then the race happened. 6 Italian Wedding tasted victory for the first time in two jumped, he never took a breath, it was just a little short for years, emerging as the best of Sheppard’s barn and the rest in him. I’m sure there was a bit of cobwebs after a year and a half the Grade 1 steeplechase. Italian Wedding rated fifth early, ral- off, but I didn’t feel like he got tired.” lied into contention on the turn and won a showdown with Three weeks later, Dalton placed him in the middle of the All Together over the final furlong to win by a length. Marti- nine-horse field and imply followed the flow of the race. ni Brother, also part of Sheppard’s favored three-horse entry “I like to put an old horse like him where he’s competitive at 4-5, rallied for third as the winner covered 2 3/8 miles in in the bunch, close enough that he doesn’t have to make up too 4:30.61. much ground but far enough away that he can save a bit. If he’s While not shocked, Sheppard admitted to some surprise good enough, he’ll get there, if he’s not, he won’t.” while walking out of the trustees’ room with his 14th Turf He was, winning for the fourth time, nearly doubling his Writers score. career earnings and rewarding Sheppard’s patience. “I could see him running a nice, honest, little race and get- Italian Wedding won a novice stakes here in 2011, and ting a piece of it,” the trainer said. “Frankly, I didn’t expect to see made two Grade 1 starts that fall. Never at that level of the him win, but that’s why we come over here in the afternoon.” game, the son of Alphabet Soup came back to try open com- As expected, longshot Brave Prospect opened a quick lead pany again last spring and finished fourth behind 2011 cham- and Divine Fortune found a spot on the inside in second. Hunt pion Black Jack Blues. Sheppard blamed “lots of little things,” Ball established his position in third. Unsettled from the begin- but Italian Wedding didn’t run again in 2012. ning, Mr. Hot Stuff tried to find cover from the outside. Italian “Nothing major, he just kept getting pushed back,” Shep- Wedding adopted a comfortable slot in fifth, on the outside pard said of the time off. He nearly came back last fall, but of 2012 Turf Writers winner Demonstrative. Meet winner All – looking at the condition book and his horse – Sheppard Together, veteran Spy In The Sky and recent allowance winner changed the play. Martini Brother settled near the back. “I got frustrated with all these sort of niggling problems he Turning into the stretch for the first time, Mr. Hot Stuff kept having and there’s not much in the fall for a horse like him pulled Paddy Young into second, just off the heels of his stable- anyway. I just said ‘Why don’t we just forget about him? Give mate. Unplanned, the move siphoned some of Mr. Hot Stuff’s him the fall off and we’ll have a nice fresh horse for the spring.’ stamina as Young tried to coax the third choice into settling. It Then, of course, everything was going fine and he popped a was too much, too soon. splint so he missed the spring too.” With a circuit to go, Mr. Hot Stuff and Hunt Ball applied Prepped with distance work on the hills and fields at the pressure to Brave Prospect who began to wilt. Divine Fortune farm, Italian Wedding went to Fair Hill Training Center for tracked them. All the while, Italian Wedding cruised in fifth, some works last month – cranking through 6-furlong moves unhurried and unpressured from the beginning. Down the on the Tapeta in 1:14 and 1:15 and change. Those aren’t much backside, Hunt Ball and Divine Fortune came under pressure on paper, but fast enough for a steeplechaser. Italian Wedding and Demonstrative lost his position. Leaving the backside, returned to the races three weeks ago, then graduated to Grade Dalton slid Italian Wedding between Hunt Ball and Mr. Hot 1 winner in the Turf Writers. Sheppard paid partial credit to Stuff as All Together and Martini Brother loomed from the the extended rest. back. Turning for home, Italian Wedding opened a length on “Maybe in a roundabout way that helped him mature and Mr. Hot Stuff and All Together tried to maneuver through on grow into himself and get better,” he said. “It’s hard to say but the cones. Italian Wedding popped the last as All Together I don’t think it hurts a horse to have a little time. He’s been flew it from the inside, offering the final threat. Ears pinned, working better, and kind of outworked Divine Fortune the Italian Wedding brushed it off with composure. other day.” “Going to the start, he just felt so sharp today, I had a lot Sheppard’s first Turf Writers came in 1979 and the winner’s of confidence in him, traveled, jumped great when I needed list includes stars Flatterer and Mixed Up, plus a few lesser lights him, chipped in when I didn’t,” Dalton said. “I went past Pad- such as Bisbalense and Sermon Of Love. Italian Wedding has dy at the top of the lane because the longer that horse travels deep roots with the trainer, who bought his granddam, Gemini’s without someone looking him in the eye, the better he’s going Gem, because she was a half-sister to top steeplechaser Victo- to go. I had him cooked, pinged the last, could hear the boys rian Hill. She won on the flat and over jumps, and produced coming to me, so could he and he just picked up, in the end, Effervescent in 1996. The daughter of Citidancer won on the flat in the last 10, 12 strides, he won a shade easy, like, ‘OK. OK. and over jumps, and has produced three stakes horses – steeple- No problem.’ ” chasers Cubist and Italian Wedding, improving turf mare Warm Sheppard dusted off Italian Wedding three weeks ago when Glow (a Keeneland allowance winner last fall and third in Dela- he finished second in the A.P. Smithwick. The 8-year-old geld- ware Park’s Rosenna Stakes last week) on the flat. ing hadn’t run since finishing fourth in the Carolina Cup in “It’s a good family,” Sheppard said. “Effervescent has been a March 2012. Dalton jumped two hurdles on Italian Wedding great broodmare, even if it took a little while with this horse. the day before the Smithwick and liked what he felt. It’s rewarding because he was sort of like not much more than “He was like a little bunny rabbit, he was brilliant. I had a little kid’s pony when we were breaking him as a yearling and seen him run the last couple of years, I knew most of what a 2-year-old and stuff on the farm. Now he’s rather surprised there was to know about him,” Dalton said. “He traveled, he everybody.” 7 August 23, 2019. The Saratoga Special. Driving Force Winston C’s development accelerated after the Nashville (Winston C adds Turf Writers). By Joe Clancy. run, and leapt forward again between the Smithwick and the Turf Writers. Ursula and Chris Nupp drove all the way from Malverne on “As each race has gone by he’s gotten more smooth over Long Island to Saratoga Race Course Thursday morning to see them and confident,” Sheppard said of the horse’s jumping. the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup steeplechase. To see “It’s very much different jumping in a race than it is at home. history. And did. You can school them a lot, but they have to do it in a race to “I’m a kid, going back 40 years, my grandpa’s taking me really learn what it’s like.” to Essex in Jersey before it was called Far Hills and Jonathan Thursday, Winston C dropped back to seventh early in a Sheppard’s giving a leg up to Jerry Fishback who won every- field of nine as All The Way Jose set a comfortable pace along thing back then, and we still love it,” said Chris while standing with Gibralfaro, Peppay Le Pugh and Hinterland among the with his wife on the first floor of the clubhouse a few minutes first four. With a lap to go, All The Way Jose led and Winston after Winston C gave Sheppard his 15th Turf Writers victory as C drafted into fifth alongside veteran Modem at the seventh a trainer. “This is tradition, this is what we came for.” fence (in front of the stands). Modem went forward, a little, Ursula picked up the narration from there, “We boarded from there but Winston C drifted outside for room at the the cat early this morning to make the jumps race, can you eighth and matched Hinterland’s move toward the front. Into believe it?” she said. “We brought the cat to the place and then the turn, All The Way Jose backed up and left it to Hinterland started driving, Thursday morning . . . traffic . . . we made it.” and Gibralfaro. With ease, Winston C advanced to second be- Winston C and jockey Tom Garner might have had an hind Hinterland and quickened midway on the turn to take easier time than the Nupps, charging into contention leaving over bending into the straight. Winston C poured it on from the last jump on the backside and drawing off to score by 8 here and won by himself with a couple of right-handed fist 3/4 lengths after 2 3/8 miles in 4:38.16. Gibralfaro hung on to pumps by Garner. second by a nose over Belisarius. The winner, owned by area Right-handed. The left was not available, thanks to a collar- resident Ed Swyer who races as Hudson River Farm, collected bone injury in a fall at Colonial Downs Saturday. $90,000 and ran his steeplechase record to 5-for-8 with two “It’s a little bit sore. I think it’s the 10th time I’ve done my thirds and $239,866. He also leaped into the picture for the left,” Garner said. “If it was the first break, I don’t think I would steeplechase Eclipse Award as the first horse to win two Grade have come back, I broke it in a different spot this time. I’m 1 stakes this year. going to take the week off and hopefully come back for the Sheppard’s last champion was Divine Fortune in 2013, and novice next week. I’ve done Magna Wave, cryotherapy, the ice the Hall of Famer won’t heap the expectations on his newest chamber, I’ve strapped it and taken loads of painkillers, had it star just yet. in a sling. The doctor here had me do five press-ups Monday “If we can keep the trainer from messing up we might be morning, I thought it was going to rebreak.” on to something,” he said in the winner’s circle Thursday. “He The effort was worth it. did that nicely and each race it just endorses what we kind of “He’s the nicest horse I’ve ever sat on, on the racecourse,” hoped for when he came in.” the jockey said of Winston C. “I spoke to (retired English jock- The Irish-bred son of Rip Van Winkle started out as a flat ey) Noel Fehily after the Smithwick and he said he would be horse in England, winning twice, before converting to hurdles competitive at Cheltenham next year.” in 2018. Trained by Harry Fry, the bay gelding won three in a Swyer, whose varied interests in the area include board row this winter – a January maiden at Wincanton, a February seats with the University of Albany Foundation, the Sarato- novice at Sandown and a March handicap at Kelso. ga Performing Arts Center, the National Museum of Dance, The rapid rise earned him a try at the Aintree Festival in Double H Ranch and more, won a championship of a different April and he finished fifth in a Grade 1 novice hurdle over soft sort this month when the Albany Empire football team cap- ground before going on the market and selling to Swyer and tured the ArenaBowl 32 over the Philadelphia Soul Aug. 11. Sheppard. Swyer, a partner with George Hearst III and Dan Nolan in the Five weeks after that Aintree run, Winston C made his football team, put Winston C’s success ahead of the Empire’s American debut in Nashville and finished third (beaten (by a nose). three-quarters of a length) against novices. Since then, Win- “I was thinking about that, comparing the football and some ston C has learned his lessons – taking to the different Ameri- of the other things I’m involved with,” Swyer said. “They’re all can fences, adapting to Sheppard’s way of doing things on the special, but there’s nothing like winning a race especially in farm and simply settling in. Since 1966, the Sheppard stable Saratoga. It’s the history, and being here with friends, and it’s has prepped steeplechasers – homebreds, American-breds, so damn difficult, you know?” foreign-breds and flat converts. All these years later, Winston Swyer called Saratoga a treasure, not just for racing but for C is a bit different. the area. “It’s a little bit of a learning experience I guess, you kind of “I believe in this community, I believe it can be more than have to study them a little bit more,” Sheppard said of a new it is,” he said. “The Saratoga Performing Arts Center is incred- horse. “Most of our other horses are homebreds and things ible. It’s right up there with any other one in terms of world and we’ve known them every step of the way.” class. There just aren’t enough people here. In Albany we have 8 the Aurora Games going – world class, the best women ath- letes in the world are competing in Albany right now. We’re doing a lot of good things. And it’s got Saratoga, the gem of North American racing.” Just like Ursula and Chris said.

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