Jimmy P was a dominant winner at Saratoga Race Course, taking the Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard Handicap steeplechase on Wednesday by 34 ½ lengths for trainer and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, native Keri Brion.
The 6-year-old gelding was sitting off the leader Pickanumber before making an explosive move before the final turn of the 2-3/8-mile race under jockey Stephen Mulqueen. Jimmy P opened up on the far turn and stormed in under a jubilant Mulqueen. The time of 4:31.64 was the fastest in the race since 2017.
“I was expecting a big run today,” Brion said. “I can’t say I was necessarily expecting that, but I’ve trained him differently up to this race and I knew he would be fit today. He jumped great, and Stephen rode him brilliantly. Jimmy put on a show.” For good measure, Brion-trained Going Country was second.
Brion, who grew up in Kirkwood, Pennsylvania, was mentored by Sheppard, the Hall of Fame steeplechase trainer. The event had been known as the New York Turf Writers Cup but was renamed in honor of Sheppard several years ago. Brion won the first running of the race after it was renamed last year with The Mean Queen (IRE) while also taking second and third places. Fittingly, she has now won the first running of the race since Jonathan Sheppard died last year.
“Obviously to win it the first year with the Mean Queen was very special but to come today with two underdogs and have them both perform like that was very special,” Brion said. “A true testament to the fabulous team behind me that works so hard to help get these results.”
Brion credited Jimmy P’s performance to more strenuous workouts in the mornings. “He takes a lot of training,” Brion said. “He’s a bit of a fatty and I didn’t have him fit enough in prior races.”
Jimmy P was fourth in his last race, the Grade 1 Beverly R. Steinman Hurdle Handicap in June. Brion trains Jimmy P for owners Madaket Stables LLC and Molly and Paul Willis. His win made New York stallion Slumber the sire of a graded stakes winner on both the flat and over jumps from just 15 horses to race, according to BloodHorse.
