FAR HILLS, N.J.--Zanjabeel, owned by Rosbrian Farm and trained by Ricky Hendriks, was an early favorite to win the $450,000 G1 Grand National Hurdle Stakes at Far Hills on Oct. 20, but he bowed a tendon just prior to the race and will be sidelined for about a year.
But despite losing that top steeplecchaser for a year, Hendriks has already picked up a prime replacement.
The race was won by an English invader, Jury Duty, owned by Sideways Syndicate, trained by by Gordon Elliot and ridden by Robbie Power, and Elliot has now left Jury Duty in the States to be trained by Hendriks.
Hendriks said he is pointing Jury Duty towards the Noel Lang at Montpelier.
Another English invader, Tornado Watch, finished second, beaten 3 1/4 lengths, with Buttonwood Farms All the Way Jose, trained by Jonathan Sheppard and ridden by Mikey Mitchell third.
Hendriks saddled two winners at Far Hills, both owned by Rosbrian Farm, Detroit Blues (GB), ridden by Ross Geraghty in the $125,000 Foxbrook Champion Hurdle and Caldbeck, ridden by J. Kennedy in the $50,000 Gladstone Three-Year-Old Hurdle Stakes.
But Jack Fisher also saddled two winners at Far Hills, both owned by Bruton Street-US, Two's Company ridden by Sean McDermott in the $50,000 New Jersey Hunt Cup Timber Stakes, and Special Relation (Ire), ridden by Willie McCarthy, in the $50,000 Sport of Kings Maiden Hurdle.
SO FISHER and Hendriks remain tied in Trainer, Races Won, with 17 wins apiece.
Fisher has saddled 113 horses to reach 17 wins, while Hendriks has only saddled 73 to get to 17 wins.
"It would mean the world to me to win that title," said Hendriks, who added that winning the Races Won title would mean the most to him.
Fisher leads Hendriks in Trainer, Money Won, with $818,650 to Hendriks $806,200.
Sheppard remains in third in both categories, while Rosbrian Farm holds a commanding lead in Owner, Money Won with$630,000, almost double that of second placed Irvin Naylor.
Gary Barber's Belisarius (Ire), trained by Kate Dalton and ridden by Bernie Dalton, won the $125,000 Sport of Kings Novice Hurdle Stakes, with Wendy Hendriks' Surprising Soul, trained by Ricky and ridden by Geraghty running second.
Straylight Racing LLC's Invocation (Fr), trained by William Santoro and ridden by McDermott, won the $50,000 Ratings handicap Hudle over Apple Eqipment LLC's Winner Massagot (Fr), trained by Richard Valentine and ridden by T. Garner second.