Noah And The Ark Sets Sail in Jonathan Sheppard

Keystone Thoroughbreds' graded stakes winner Noah And The Ark (IRE) will carry a field-high 158 pounds in search of a second career grade 1 score in the $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard Handicap (NSA-G1), a 2 3/8-mile hurdle test for older horses at Saratoga Race Course. Trained by Todd McKenna, the 9-year-old son of Vinnie Roe (IRE) notched the biggest win of his career in September when taking the 2 1/2-mile Lonesome Glory Handicap (NSA-G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack at odds of 41-1 with an off-the-pace trip under regular pilot Harrison Beswick. "It was a shock to me and it was a shock to the bettors," McKenna said with a laugh. "He's a beautiful horse and he came over to America with five wins (in England), so to have wins over there before arriving here was a good thing. We did have high hopes for him, it was just a tough time getting to that spot." Noah And The Ark followed with a distant runner-up effort to Hewick (IRE) in the Grand National Hurdle Stakes (NSA-G1) at Far Hills over yielding footing to close out his 8-year-old campaign. He returned this year in the Iroquois Hurdle Stakes (NSA-G1) at Percy Warner where he finished a fading fifth after stalking the pace in the three-mile test for older horses. The chestnut gelding arrives from a closing fourth in the A.P. Smithwick Memorial Handicap (NSA-G1) July 19 at the Spa where he tracked in last before putting in a mild bid at the 1 3/4-mile call and improving to finish fourth, 13 1/2 lengths behind the winner. McKenna said some pre-race antics contributed to Noah And The Ark being farther back than usual in the Smithwick. "He was able to get Harry off his back in the paddock," McKenna said. Beswick retains the mount from post 5. Hudson River Farms' L'Imperator (FR) was a graded stakes winner on the flat and will look to secure his first graded triumph on the hurdle as one of two entrants for conditioner Archibald Kingsley Jr., who also sends out Merry Maker (IRE). L'Imperator, a grade 2 winner in flat racing last year for trainer Chad Brown, enters from an impressive allowance coup on July 26 at the Spa where he notched his first triumph against winners over the hurdles in a 2 1/16-mile route. He earned his other victory over hurdles at third asking in a 2 1/4-mile maiden special weight May 13 at Percy Warner ahead of a distant off-the-board finish in the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup Stakes (G2T) on the flat at Belmont Park. "You can draw a line through the Belmont Gold Cup and his first two races (over hurdles) were pretty educational," Kingsley said. "When he broke his maiden in Nashville, it's a very different style racetrack as it's more of a galloping track and he came back on something much more speed favoring. It shows his versatility." Hurricana Farm's Merry Maker arrives from a third-place effort in the Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes Aug. 2 at the Spa where he rallied from seventh to secure show honors 14 1/2 lengths behind returning rival McTigue (IRE). Merry Maker makes his graded debut in his third start of the season and looks to build upon an allowance coup in May at Grand Meadow. "We like him, too," Kingsley said.