SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Proven Innocent was entered at Saratoga for last year's inaugural Beverly R. Steinman steeplechase, but wound up not running when the race was postponed due to weather and eventually run more than a week later at Aqueduct.
This year, both Proven Innocent and the race itself returned to Saratoga, and Proven Innocent made a grinding run during the final flat run to the wire for a three-quarter-length win in the Grade 1, $150,000 Steinman, a handicap hurdle for older horses which kicked off Wednesday's Saratoga card and the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
The win was the first in a Grade 1 for Proven Innocent, a 7-year-old Blame gelding who had Freddie Procter in the irons for Hall of Fame trainer Jack Fisher. He paid $11.60 as the third choice in the seven-horse field.
Little Trilby, who had been a clear-cut second in the early running, inherited the lead when 2024 Eclipse Award finalist Carloun, who had been loose and keen on the lead, fell landing from the fifth of nine fences. Carloun ran on before being caught by the outriders, and was given a van ride back to the barn. Jockey Paddy O'Hanlon walked off the course under his own power and went to be examined at first aid.
After making the front, Little Trilby continued to lead for another lap around the track in the 2 3/8-mile race. He led by about three lengths after the final jump and commenced the about half-mile flat run home. But Awakened, a Grade 1 winner on this course, moved on his inside nearly simultaneously with Evie's Prince coming to his outside, and with those two swarming him, Little Trilby folded.
Awakened and Evie's Prince continued on near-even terms down the stretch, but Proven Innocent, who had been unhurried early, found his best stride on the flat. He came widest of all and surged to his score in the final yards.
“Down the back, I sat there thinking, ‘not too soon, not too soon,’ ” Procter said. “They gave me a lovely lead into the stretch, and when I pressed go, he dug deep.”
Evie's Prince found another gear in the final strides to turn back Awakened by 2 1/2 lengths for second.
The final time for 2 3/8 miles was 4:39.20 on the inner turf course that began the day rated firm on a warm, sunny day.
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