The numbers indicated that Saturday's $200,000 GI Calvin Houghland Iroquois S. would come down to two horses: Dawalan (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}) or Scorpiancer (Ire) (Scorpion {Ire}).
The numbers were the National Steeplechase Association's ratings of its competitors, the consensus of three steeplechase handicappers working with NSA Director of Racing Bill Gallo Jr. Dawalan, the 2015 Eclipse Award champion, carried the top rating, 156, and Scorpiancer was second at 153. Others were more than seven pounds or more behind them.
The imponderable, of course, was Dawalan's absence from the racecourse since November 2015 and his ability to come back from an injury he sustained in a spring 2016 point-to-point race.
In the end, the Calvin Houghland Iroquois belonged entirely to Scorpiancer, who romped home by 16 lengths while jockey Sean McDermott gave him a caretaker ride over the last three fences. Hinterland (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}), making his first start since September 2015, finished second and was 40 lengths in front of Andi'amu (Fr) (Walk In The Park {Ire}), the only other finisher in a field of six.
The race was determined just past the midpoint of the three-mile event on Nashville's Percy Warner Park, when Dawalan jumped a fence poorly and lost all chance. All but simultaneously, McDermott decided to quit toying with pacesetter Andi'amu and pushed the button on Scorpiancer.
In short order, Scropiancer was clear of the field and opening daylight. He led by eight on the final turn and by 10 at last fence before widening to the wire.
Trained by Jack Fisher, Scorpiancer collected his second Grade I victory, after last September's Lonesome Glory H. at Belmont Park, and earned the opportunity to compete for the $500,000 TVV Capital Iroquois-Cheltenham Challenge, which pays out to any horse capable of winning the Calvin Houghland Iroquois and the Cheltenham Festival's G1 Stayers' Hurdle within 12 months.
Nichols Canyon (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) had won the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle in March, but was injured while en route to the U.S. to run in the Iroquois.
Scorpiancer is owned by Bruton Street-US, whose principal partner, Michael Hankin, was instrumental in setting up the bonus last year. A veteran horse owner, Hankin deferred a decision on Scorpiancer's participation at Cheltenham next March.
“Let's take it a day at a time,” he said.
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