FAIR HILL, Md. -- Census, the second choice of oddsmakers going into the 2 -mile $250,000 Breeder's Cup Steeplechase, Saturday took advantage of the late scratch of three-time Eclipse Award winner Flatterer to win the race by 1 lengths.
In the field of 11 horses, Census, trained by Janet Elliot and ridden by Jeff Teter, cleared the 16 jumps on the course in 4:27 3-5. George Chase of Atlanta, owner of the 8-year-old chestnut gelding, earned a $125,000 share of the purse.
Flatterer, who has beaten Census in four out of five contests, walked out of his stall off on his left hind leg Saturday morning. 'We hoped he would walk out of it,' said owner William Pape. 'But there is definitely something wrong.'
With Flatterer scratched, Turtle Head took an early lead and was stalked by Census and the New Zealand-bred Mr. Asia. The field was closely bunched until the sixth fence when Mr. Asia and jockey George Sloan tumbled to the turf.
At that point, Census was third behind Turtle Head and the French horse, Gacko.
Census took the lead midway through the race and kept a narrow advantage over the final fence. The stretch drive, relatively short at Fair Hill Race Course, 'seemed like miles,' said Teter, who was chased through the stretch by Kesslin, ridden by John White.
Kesslin finished about four lengths ahead of stablemate Pont du Loup, ridden by Gregg Morris.
Kesslin and Pont du Loop are trained by Charles Fenwick of Butler, Md.
Kalankoe finished fourth, followed by Eremite, Gacko and Turtle Head.
A record crowd of 19,185 spectators, wagering $61,718, attended the first running of the Breeders' Cup Steeplechase, a complement to card of the seven Breeders' Cup races at Santa Anita.
Census, the son of Speak John, suffered a tendon injury in the 1984 Colonial Cup in Camden, S.C., that required an operation and more than a year's rest. He made his come-back race in March this year on the flats in Camden, and then had several good races over fences, culminating with a victory in the A.P. Smithwick at Saratoga and the Temple Gwathmey Oct. 10 at Belmont Park.
Elliot is now pointing Census toward the Nov. 16 Colonial Cup.
