SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Cyber Ninja,trained by Jack Fisher, won the $75,000, 2 3/8 mile Michael G. (Micky) Walsh Novice Stakes at Cyber Ninja outduels Lynches Knock in the Micky Walsh Photo by Tod Marks)Saratoga on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Riverdee Stable's Cyber Ninja, ridden by Jamie Bargary, won by 1 length over Lynches Knock, trained by Ricky Hendriks, and Philip My Dear, trained by Kathy Neilson.

Those three finished 23 3/4 lengths in front of King Al and Famous Figure while Alpamayo  was pulled up  and vanned off the course.

Cyber Ninja, who was stakes placed on the flat, had previously won a maiden, an allowance and the Daniel Van Clief Memorial Stakes at Foxfield in April over fences.

Most recently, he had placed second to Mr. Percy in the Jonathan Kiser Memorial Novice Stakes at Saratoga on July 16.

 

CYBER NINJA ran third for most of the race, moved up to collar the leader, Philip My Dear after the final fence and went into the lead on the turn.

"I loved where he was," said Sean Clancy, manager  of the Riverdee syndicate. "H's a real pro. Shout  out to Bill Mott, who trained him before we got him. I watched the race from Bill's box. I thought it would give me some luck."

"I've had horses beaten the last four times out, so I didn't celebrate until after the finish," said Clancy.  

"The only thing I said to Jamie was, `Just be confident and trust the horse,'" he said.  "He's a nice horse, and he's had plenty of experience."

"I made a deal to buy this horse at the Breeders Cup two years ago," said Clancy. "I'd been following him for a long time. I thought everything about him just screamed jumper."

With this win, Cyber Ninja graduates from the novice ranks and now has to run in open company.

"I talked to Jack,and I'll probably put him away until next year," said Clancy. "I don't see any good spots for him this fall.""