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Demonstrative just gets up to deny Divine Fortune in Iroquois Jacqueline Ohrstrom's Demonstrative forced his head in front of Divine Fortune to capture Saturday's 72nd running of the NSA Grade 1, $150,000 Iroquois at Nashville's Percy Warner Park. The two were confirming the form of their 2012 finale in the Colonial Cup at Camden, where Demonstrative had edged one length clear. The Richard Valentine charge cut it closer in this three-mile test over fences, the richest prize of the National Steeplechase Association's spring season. Lake Placid set out in front and led for much of the early going, only to fade with about a mile left. The tracking Molotof took up the baton for a time, until Divine Fortune threw down his challenge on the last bend. While Divine Fortune surged two lengths clear, Demonstrative was ominously advancing in his wake with Robbie Walsh, and the stage was set for a rousing duel. Divine Fortune was still in front after they jumped the final fence, but Demonstrative proved relentless in deep stretch. Grittily grinding his way home, he was up in time to finish in 5:42 2/5 on the good turf. Molotof checked in some way astern in third. The French-bred gelding is owned by Mary Ann Houghland, the widow of Calvin Houghland, in whose honor the Iroquois was run. Demonstrative was collecting his sixth stakes victory. Successful in the 2010 Raymond G. Woolfe Memorial Hurdle at Camden, the Elusive Quality gelding ranked as the NSA's champion three-year-old. At four, he added the 2011 William Entenmann Novice Hurdle at Belmont and also placed in the Jonathan Kiser Novice Hurdle, Michael G. Walsh Novice Hurdle, Dorothy Fred Smithwick Memorial, Foxbrook Champion Hurdle and National Cup Hurdle. In 2012, Demonstrative went one better in the Jonathan Kiser, and in the process, established a new course record of 3:42 3/5 for the 2 1/16-mile course at Saratoga. He came right back at the Spa to earn his first Grade 1 title in the New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase. Demonstrative was subsequently fourth in the Grand National at Far Hills, but rebounded to end his productive campaign on a high note in the Colonial Cup. The six-year-old was next seen on April 27 scoring in his training flat race at North Carolina's Queens Cup meeting. He made a winning return to action over fences here. Bred by Gainsborough Farm in Kentucky, Demonstrative first raced on the flat in England. After managing to win once, in a Southwell handicap, from 11 races, he was sold for $39,713 at the 2010 Tattersalls July Sale, and reinvented himself over the jumps in America. The bay is out of French Group 3 heroine Loving Pride, a daughter of Quiet American. For a round-up of all of Saturday's racing action at Percy Warner, visit the National Steeplechase Association. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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