Tax Ruling edged Divine Fortune to win Saturday's $100,000 Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup Steeplechase at the Springdale Race Course.
Tax Ruling finished the 2 3/4-mile course over 17 National fences in 5:11.20. It was Tax Ruling's sixth win in 23 starts over fences and the $60,000 winner's share ran his earnings total for the NSA season to $153,500.
The Irv Naylor-owned 8-year-old also became the only horse in the National Steeplechase Association to win two of the circuit's four Grade I chases this year.
''He's kind of a cool horse,'' trainer Brianne Slater said. ''I was pretty confident with him. He's been training pretty well. He's been bucking and squealing. And, Xav (jockey Xavier Aizpuru) gave him a great ride ... he really did.''
Divine Fortune was second and Arcadius was another length back in a starting field of 12.
The pre-race favorite, the Naylor-owned Black Jack Blues, winner of last month's $250,000 Grand National in Far Hills, N.J., was scratched on Wednesday after developing a minor respiratory infection.
