Fair Hill Steeplechase Preview: A Conversation with Sean Clancy
Memorial Day Monday marks the return of steeplechase racing to Fair Hill for the first time since 2019. Peter Thomas Fornatale called up three-time Eclipse Award-winning journalist, champion steeplechase jockey, and Riverdee Stable owner Sean Clancy on his way to the track to go through the nine-race card.
PTF: Sean, what’s going on, man? How are things?
Sean Clancy: Hey, good morning. Driving to Fair Hill, which is fun. It’s nice to be back.
PTF: I’m so envious. Between family plans and this weather, it just wasn’t going to happen for me unfortunately. But I’m excited to be sitting here in Brooklyn betting on the stuff. One point of fact I wanted to go over with you first — what’s the deal with why the Sunday racing was canceled but Monday is going ahead? Is it different courses they use down there?
Sean Clancy: I think there’s a couple of factors. One, like most racetracks, it drains to the inside, so I think the flat course was softer than the jump course. And a day earlier. It sounded like it was just too soft to run the flat races. Flat races obviously go faster. Flat jockeys might not have the same kind of experience racing on soft ground. One thing that’s really important when it comes to steeplechasing — soft ground is safer than firm ground. Firm ground, you just go faster, there’s more concussion. It’s harder to even get a grip when you’re adjusting your strides. As far as steeplechasing goes, we’d always rather run on soft ground than firm ground. It’s safer and better. So I think that was the logic behind it. The other part is where the jump course is — if you do tear that up, it might not affect the flat course for the next time they run flat races and also when they breeze at Fair Hill. So there’s a lot of factors that go into it.
PTF: That makes perfect sense. You talk about concussion — you’re talking about hooves and heads potentially too, right?
Sean Clancy: Exactly. For me, as a jump owner, I worry way more when the ground’s firm than soft. There’s horses that like firm — certainly American-bred flat horses do better on firm ground than the European horses. But as far as the safety aspect, you’re always more comfortable running on soft ground. The concussion to the horses, and if there is a fall, it’s a lot harder to take falls on firm ground than soft ground.
Race 1 (1:00 PM) — $25,000 Allowance Flat, 2 Miles Turf
PTF: Let’s go through these races. We’ll start right at the beginning with race number one where we’ve got a big favorite in this allowance race in the form of Fleetfoot, the Irish-bred. What’s your opinion on this race?
Sean Clancy: I thought Fleetfoot was a standout. I actually went against him at the Gold Cup — he took a lot of money there over jumps coming off of a subpar race at Elkton. But he proved that he’s as good as he was last fall with his jump race, so he’s tough in here. It’s an interesting condition — it’s for horses who have started over jumps, flat race, $25,000, going two miles. He looks pretty nailed on. With some give in the ground, he obviously can handle that. He’s a standout. I assume Danny Mullins is here — international star coming in for Fair Hill. I never thought I’d say that. We have Serifos in there for Riverdee. He needs a race. He’s looking at maiden races over hurdles this summer, so he’s been away a little bit. I’m hoping to just get a good race for him. If they can win, they’ll win. But against a horse like Fleetfoot, who has good flat form, he looks tough in there.
Sean’s R1 picks: #7 Fleetfoot (IRE) (7-5) — standout, nailed on, soft ground suits. Danny Mullins aboard. Sean’s own #5 Serifos (8-1) needs a race; looking ahead to maiden hurdles this summer.
Race 2 (1:30 PM) — $40,000 Maiden Special Weight Hurdle, 2 Miles
PTF: Shall we move right along to the second race? Maiden special weight, going two miles over hurdles.
Sean Clancy: I thought this was a little tricky. You’ve got horses who have form and horses who don’t have form. I landed on Bourbonator, going for the Barry Foley–Danny Mullins daily double at Fair Hill. His form’s pretty good. Good second in the Speedy Smithwick, which is a restricted four-year-old stakes at the Gold Cup. I mean, it’s a stakes by name, but it’s a very restrictive condition in jump racing. I lean there. Massif is a big, pretty horse, ran well at Nashville. Verbal has been disappointing so far over hurdles. They keep waiting for him to have a breakout race — you’re probably not getting much value there. I tend to go against first-time starters over hurdles when the ground’s soft. It’s such a big task for first-time starters to go two miles, and then you factor in the soft ground, which makes it more tiring. Safer, but more tiring. So I’d probably lean against horses like Flash Frozen, Consolation Prize, Crystal Hill — just because they haven’t had a race, and soft ground makes it that much harder.
Sean’s R2 picks: #6 Bourbonator (4-1) — Foley/Mullins daily double angle, good Gold Cup form. #1 Massif (3-1) ran well at Nashville. Fade first-time starters on soft ground: #4 Flash Frozen, #2 Consolation Prize, #7 Crystal Hill. #3 Verbal (8-5) disappointing, no value.
Race 3 (2:00 PM) — $35,000 Maiden Special Weight Hurdle, Fillies & Mares, 2 Miles
PTF: Let’s go to the third race — maiden fillies and mares this time around. Where did you land?
Sean Clancy: I ended up going with Belle Wish just because her Irish pedigree and form is OK. She did way too much running in Nashville. She was in front for a long way, opened up — but Nashville going two and a quarter compared to Fair Hill going two miles is very different. I forgave her for not getting home up Heartbreak Hill in Nashville, and I think she’ll improve here going two miles. Again, Irish-bred, soft ground — I thought she might like that. The rest of them have a lot of question marks. Red Tone isn’t impossible. She had a good point-to-point run, she’s had a few excuses. I could see her maybe playing in a place behind Belle Wish. But I’d be tepid on that. Camanoe for Jack Fisher probably needs a race. Some of these others, the jury’s still out.
PTF: Not a lot of confidence I’m hearing in your opinion of the third.
Sean Clancy: No. I thought if there’s a little value, I might go in. I would play price there for sure.
Sean’s R3 picks: #8 Belle Wish (IRE) (9-5) — Irish-bred, forgave Nashville fade at longer trip, soft ground suits. #4 Red Tone (8-1) not impossible, could place. Low confidence overall — play price if spreading.
Race 4 (2:30 PM) — $40,000 Maiden Special Weight Hurdle, 2 Miles
PTF: Let’s talk about this fourth race — another maiden affair. Are you going to be with one of the favorites, or are you going to try to pull in something at a price?
Sean Clancy: I ended up on Anyoneforsnacks, the outside horse. Good, solid run in the Gold Cup, Irish-bred — should like a little bit of cut in the ground. I thought he looked pretty good in here. The others have some questions. Retouch actually ran well once at a point-to-point and then poorly the next one. Would probably appreciate soft ground, might do a little at a price. But Onrush, first-time starter — I’d be a little hesitant. Repurpose, same thing, first-time starter. I’m just a little careful with first-time starters on soft ground.
PTF: What did you make of Roundtop in here? Certainly has some amazing bloodlines, three-to-one on the morning line, some questionable hurdle form, but that blood.
Sean Clancy: Yeah, live stable from Keri Brion, who does well. Stephen Mulqueen’s one of the better jockeys on the circuit. Not impossible. First race was just OK — that was a maiden starter, almost like a maiden’s allowance, restricted condition. Second race wasn’t terrible. But I thought Anyoneforsnacks should improve. He beat him there, and if there’s a horse out of the two who would improve more, I’d say Anyoneforsnacks — just making his second start rather than his third. That’s where I landed. But you’re not wrong with Roundtop. Not impossible.
Sean’s R4 picks: #8 Anyoneforsnacks (IRE) (8-5) — solid Gold Cup run, Irish-bred, soft ground. #3 Retouch (FR) (6-1) at a price on soft ground. Lean against first-timers #2 Onrush (4-1) and #5 Repurpose (8-1). #1 Roundtop (3-1) not impossible but Anyoneforsnacks preferred.
Race 5 (3:00 PM) — $50,000 Allowance Hurdle (NW2), 2 Miles
PTF: Let’s talk about the fifth race, the pay leg for the early Pick 5. We get back to an allowance condition with a non-winners-of-two stipulation. What did you like here?
Sean Clancy: This is a good race. Really solid allowance race. I’d say out of the maiden spring winners, you’ve got three of the better ones. Gettleman was good at Foxfield — American-bred flat horse, so soft ground probably doesn’t help him. Siennois, Keri Brion’s horse, first time out at Middleburg — that was a solid run. Irish-bred, so should theoretically deal with the soft ground, although he spent a lot of time in California on firm ground. Missionaire is the third. He was impressive, I thought, in his maiden. Went to the Gold Cup — we actually bet him there at ten-to-one, which was a great price. His first race was really just kind of an easy race to set him up for the second one. I thought he was impressive. All three of those horses were good. They’re solid allowance horses. Any of the three could wind up in novice stakes at Saratoga, those types of races. Beyond them, Grey Pharoh — they’ve always thought a lot of that horse. I think he would like the soft ground. His race at Nashville was poor, but that was a tougher race going two and three-quarters to start the year. I could see him improving a little bit on soft ground at a price. Max’d Out might improve a little on soft ground, but he might be a little one-paced for a two-mile hurdle race. But those maiden winners were very good. I thought they were impressive — the three best maiden winners of the spring — and all three could win again.
PTF: My temptation based on your analysis would be to try to lock it up with those three and hope one of them can anchor this early Pick 5 for us. Would you sign off on that plan?
Sean Clancy: Yeah, I can see that. Awesome Man is OK, but he probably wouldn’t improve by soft ground. No, I just thought those three maiden winners were impressive. When they won, I thought, “Wow, those are nice horses that would go on and do bigger things.” I’d stick to those three.
Sean’s R5 picks: Three maiden winners to anchor the Pick 5 — #3 Siennois (IRE) (3-1), #4 Gettleman (8-1), #8 Missionaire (4-1). “Any of the three could wind up in novice stakes at Saratoga.” At a price: #10 Grey Pharoh (IRE) (8-1) could improve on soft ground.
Race 6 (3:30 PM) — Valentine Memorial Stakes, $50,000, 2¼ Miles Hurdle
PTF: Let’s go on to the stakes portion of the card beginning with the Valentine Memorial. I want to hear your thoughts.
Sean Clancy: This is actually a cool race. I love this condition — non-winners of an open sweepstakes over hurdles. You get an eclectic mix, which I like. We’re scratching Vintage Year, so that was a Riverdee horse in here, which is disappointing. I thought he’d run well. He’s a little banged up from a fall at Nashville — clipped heels and fell — so we’ve got to give him more time. But I thought this was tricky. You could really spread here and have a chance. Two Past Eight — obvious choice off his race at Willowdale. That was an apprentice hurdle race, which he won aggressively. He’s a consistent horse. I like that horse — he’s tough, runs a lot of good races. King of the Kids is interesting, could improve a little off of his race. Predominate has been very good for Todd McKenna. Kind of breaks all the rules — a little older, came from Scott Lake, a lot of Parx, which would not really be a hotbed of steeplechase talent. But he’s all right, that horse. He’s run well, had some tough races this spring. My only question is can he bounce back coming right back from Nashville, where he stepped up into a novice stakes and ran well. Talented horse, gets Graham Watters, one of the better jockeys on the circuit. But he’s questionable with the ground and coming back on short rest after Nashville. Beyond them, Neotropic’s not a bad horse. Who’s Counting is not a bad horse. Sweet Will could improve. You could spread around in this race. There are several horses who could win. If they won, you wouldn’t be standing there going, “How did this happen?”
PTF: Two Past Eight a place to maybe get a little more involved?
Sean Clancy: Yeah, he’s a cool horse. He’s British-bred, so he should adapt to soft ground. Consistent, good race last time at two miles. This is actually two and a quarter, so it’s got to stretch his speed another quarter mile. I’m anxious to see how the ground plays. That’s the one caveat of the whole day — just not sure how soft it’ll be. They say this place drains well and they didn’t think it’d be that soft. If it isn’t that soft, I’d be leaning a little more American-bred flat horse and less Irish-bred stamina.
Sean’s R6 picks: Wide open — spread. #2 Two Past Eight (GB) (3-1) — consistent, British-bred, should handle soft, but 2¼ miles stretches his speed. #11 Predominate (4-1) — talented but bounce risk off Nashville on short rest. #9 King of the Kids (6-1) — could improve. Others not impossible: #1 Neotropic (15-1), #3 Who’s Counting (10-1), #4 Sweet Will (10-1). Sean scratched his own Vintage Year (Nashville fall).
Race 7 (4:00 PM) — $30,000 Handicap Hurdle (rated 110 or less), 2 Miles
PTF: We’ll keep an eye on the ground. Let’s get to the next race — a $30,000 handicap. Who’s your idea of the winner?
Sean Clancy: I thought this was another deep race. This is a 110 handicap, so kind of the bottom-level handicappers in steeplechasing. Very difficult. I wound up on Garrison Forest. Irish-bred, should deal with the ground, some good form back in the day. Second at Willowdale behind a pretty nice horse — Ranger Thunderbolt was two-for-two. So I thought he was OK in here. The rest of them — Lewin’s Gully is coming out of a maiden claimer but isn’t a bad horse, Irish-bred. Fouroneohsmokeshow has some talent but probably wouldn’t benefit from soft ground. Benjis Benefit has a little ability. I was kind of all over the place here.
PTF: Any other numbers you didn’t check? This race is important — it’ll close the first Pick 5 and start the second one.
Sean Clancy: I thought Garrison Forest the two was OK, and Tuddenham Green the nine was OK. Beyond that, it’s going to be depending on what the ground’s doing by this time. If the ground’s playing fast, I’d be looking more for American flat types than Irish-bred stamina.
Sean’s R7 picks: #2 Garrison Forest (IRE) (4-1) — Irish-bred, should handle ground, solid Willowdale form. #9 Tuddenham Green (GB) (10-1) also OK. Ground-dependent — if firm, lean American; if soft, lean European.
Race 8 (4:30 PM) — $25,000 Maiden Claiming Hurdle, 2 Miles
PTF: Let’s move on to the eighth race. $25,000 maiden claimer. What are your thoughts?
Sean Clancy: Same thing — we scratch Mortal Sin in here. That’s another Riverdee horse. He’s got a foot abscess, so it’s a little disappointing to scratch two of our four runners. I thought this race was pretty wide open. I had Whiskeyinthejaro, the five. If it’s playing more like American turf, I would lean that direction. That horse should improve from his first start — he used a waiver maiden claimer there, and I think he’ll improve a ton from that. I thought Boffo Kid I kind of liked a little bit. He draws in from the outside. His race was pretty good at the Gold Cup — got out the back and made a little run. He’s more of an American-bred flat horse type. If the ground’s playing firm, or at least good, I would consider him at a big price. His form is spotty at best, but that race wasn’t too bad at the Gold Cup. Should improve a little bit for the race. Beyond Reproach possibly would be OK. But I’d probably lean on Whiskeyinthejaro. Again, if it’s soft, tiring, arduous ground by then, I would lean against him a little just because he’s American-bred, his whole career has been American-bred flat racing. But if the ground plays decent, I could see him winning for sure.
Sean’s R8 picks: #5 Whiskeyinthejaro (6-1) — should improve a ton off first start, lean if ground plays decent. #11 Boffo Kid (10-1, AE) — if he draws in, decent Gold Cup run, needs good ground at a big price. #4 Beyond Reproach (2-1) possibly OK. Sean scratched his own Mortal Sin (foot abscess).
Race 9 (5:00 PM) — $20,000 Maiden Special Weight Timber, 3 Miles
PTF: We wrap it up with some more maidens. Let’s talk about your idea of the winner of the lucky last.
Sean Clancy: These are maiden timber horses, over the wooden post-and-rail fences, five o’clock, end of a long day. You’ll recognize Noah and the Ark — Grade 1 winner of the Grand National — making his timber debut at age twelve for Todd McKenna. Look, if he jumps around, which he should, same thing — Irish-bred, he’s tough. Been away a long time, but class of the race. Sometimes you just don’t complicate these things. He’s the best horse in the race. You’ve got to consider him. Doesn’t Sting at a big price for Jack Fisher wouldn’t be impossible. British-bred, some old form on soft ground back at Shawan Downs. His race at Willowdale — he finished second there. That would set him up OK here. I don’t think he’s impossible. Evie’s Prince has had a hard spring — three starts already over timber — but solid, has some good old hurdle form. If it’s firm or good ground, I could see him being improved over the others. But I was going Noah and the Ark, Doesn’t Sting possibly. Kid Rocks in a batch, Shining Marble isn’t too bad. It’s wide open, but I think at a price, maybe Doesn’t Sting.
Sean’s R9 picks: #3 Noah and the Ark (IRE) (3-1) — G1 Grand National winner, timber debut at 12, class of the race. “Sometimes you just don’t complicate these things.” At a price: #8 Doesn’t Sting (GB) (15-1) — British-bred, soft ground form. #7 Evie’s Prince (4-1) if ground is firm/good.
PTF: Great stuff, Sean. We’ll be in contact throughout the day. If there’s more info, I’ll share it with the people on Twitter. Love to hear if you have any updates — it’d be fun to communicate a little bit like the old days, maybe make some money on these races. What do you say?
Sean Clancy: Yeah, we just need chicken salad sandwiches from the Landenberg Store and a case of Yuengling cans. I think that was our move back in the day. Those were glorious days.
PTF: Beautiful stuff.
Sean Clancy: I do remember once we couldn’t see the odds — we couldn’t get any — and you started complaining. “I can’t see the value, I don’t know the pool, I don’t know what’s in the trifecta pool.” You’re freaking out. I said, “Pete, man. This is Fair Hill. It’s different. This is what it’s about. We’re all right.”
PTF: That’s phenomenal.
Sean Clancy: We had great days.
PTF: Maybe next year we’ll do a whole Fair Hill stories show and we’ll do this right. But I’m so glad to have you on record here. People will hear this original audio on the audio side. I’m going to sum it all up in a short YouTube video as well. Sean, you’re the best. Thanks to you, thanks to Riverdee. If you’re looking to get involved in ownership, make sure you check out the Riverdee Stable website. Also, of course, you can read Sean through the Saratoga Special and thisishorseracing.com. Sean, thanks so much, bud.
Sean Clancy: All right, enjoy your day.
PTF: Good stuff. Thanks everybody out there. May you win all your Fair Hill bets.
