by Myra Lewyn

Beverly Steinman’s Dark Equation displayed a perfect balance between stamina and athleticism on Thursday at Saratoga Race Course as he powered over the final fence, surged to the lead, and outbattled novice Be Certain to win the $159,300 New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase Handicap by a half-length. 

The race, which marked the first stakes triumph for Dark Equation, is considered a Grade 1 race by the National Steeplechase Association.

Runner-up to stablemate High Action in the 2 1/16-mile A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase Stakes on August 7 at Saratoga, Dark Equation stretched out to 2 3/8 miles for the first time on Thursday and looked to have plenty of energy in reserve as he launched a strong bid on the outside to challenge Be Certain in upper stretch despite shouldering second-high weight of 152 pounds.

Trained by Doug Fout, Dark Equation prevailed under strong urging from jockey Matt McCarron to score at odds of 8.50-to-1 and covered the distance in 4:31.28 on firm turf.

High Action, the 2.45-to-1 favorite, finished third.

“Coming over the last fence, Be Certain was getting 13 pounds from Dark Equation,” McCarron said. “But he is a good, stout horse. Be Certain, I’ve ridden him before, and who knows who good he is going to be?

“My horse is a deliberate jumper; he would be a good show jumper. He is almost too good as a jumper, he over-jumps. Be Certain had the advantage on him over the last fence.”   

Four Schools, the longest shot in the nine-horse field at odds of 30.50-to-1, and English group winner Salford City (Ire), the 3-to-1 second choice, spurted to the front early and soon distanced themselves from the rest of the field.
  
Salford City, the 154-pound highweight, closely pursued Four Schools (Ire), who set a swift face, then seized command after the second backstretch fence, but he quickly tired after leading to the far turn and finished seventh.

Dark Equation, a seven-year-old Polish Numbers gelding, has won four races over the jumps after capturing two flat races when trained by Christophe Clement.

Bred in Pennsylvania by Derry Meeting Farm and London Thoroughbred Services, Dark Equation is out of the Wild Again mare Night Risk, a half sister to stakes winner Vignette, dam of 2007 Ladbrokes St. Leger (Eng-G1) victor Lucarno.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times Today editor