Brian Crowley and Divine Fortune fell at the last hurdle in the NY Turf Writers Cup

Mrs. George Ohrstrom Jr.'s Demonstrative was able to avoid trouble at the final fence and won the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup steeplechase Thursday.

Two horses fell going over the last hurdle in the 2 3/8 miles race, but Demonstrative and rider Robert Walsh were not affected by the spill and went on to post a one-length victory. Both of the horses and the riders involved in the accident - Brian Crowley on Divine Fortune and Paddy Young on Left Unsaid - were able to get up and walk off the course.

Demonstrative, a 5-year-old Elusive Quality gelding trained by Richard Valentine, was second in two races at Saratoga last year and prepped for his first graded stakes victory with a win in the Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes on July 26.

"He's a big rangy horse," Valentine said. "You would think he would want more of a galloping track, but he really seems to like this tight track on the inner turf here."

Valentine said the horse has improved quite a bit in the last year and is poised to be a standout.

"He's five and in our game that's young," Valentine said. "Last year he had a big year; we ran him eight times. He's finally filled out. He's matured. He's getting more consistent in his running style.

"I had a couple of anxious moments where I thought he wasn't going to get out. Once he gets daylight, he's not going to pack it in. He's going to try. He has a tremendous heart, a tremendous attitude. I'm very, very lucky to train him."

Demonstrative paid $13.60 to win.