'Jump' Newsletter - Edition 14
'Jump' Newsletter - Edition 14
"Cracker Factory rallies late to win the $35,000 Brown Advisory Timber Stakes."
Welcome to the Fourteenth edition of 'Jump.'
The inaugural weekend of the National Steeplechase Association's autumn season proved to be a spectacular success for Leslie Young, who expanded her lead in the trainer standings.
Young achieved a remarkable trifecta at both Shawan Downs in Cockeyesville, Maryland, and Foxfield in Charlottesville, Virginia. This has brought her total victories to 27, with nine more scheduled events remaining. Last season, Young claimed her first-ever training title with 37 wins - an unbroken record since the late Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard won 39 races back in 1988. Jack Fisher trails behind Young in second place with 13 victories.
Jump racing will now take a two-week hiatus before resuming on October 14th at the Genesee Valley Hunt in New York and the Virginia Fall Races in Middleburg, Va.
Riders Up!
Steve Coxon - USASteeplechase
In Case You Missed It: This Week's Top 4 USA Jump Racing Stories
Contents
Shawan Downs Recap - Cracker Factory rallies late to take $35,000 Brown Advisory Timber Stakes
Foxfield Races Recap - Who’s Counting an easy winner of the $35,000 Handicap
Fall Meets - Save the Date: The Virginia Fall Races, October 14th, 2023
Fall Meets - Save the Date: The Genesee Valley Hunt Races, October 14th, 2023
“The ‘Jump newsletter’ is an absolute boon to me. Now domiciled in the UK, it keeps me updated on US jump racing. Thank you.” - Barbara Shaw (Facebook)
Cracker Factory rallies late to take $35,000 Brown Advisory timber stakes
By Tod Marks
Racing at the back of the five-horse field for much of the 3 1/8 miles, The Hundred Acre Field's Cracker Factory unleashed a powerful rally past the final fence to edge Boudinot Farm's Elusive Exclusive by a head in the Brown Advisory timber stakes at the Legacy Chase at Shawan Downs in Cockeyesville, Md. today.
Ridden by Jamie Bargary for trainer Mark Beecher, the eight-year-old British-bred son of Poet's Voice looked like he'd be in a dog fight for second with defending timber champion Andi'amu heading to the last, as Elusive Exclusive, with Freddie Procter, seemingly in command. But Cracker Factory dug down and gained ground with every stride to just get up. Andi'amu was third.
Shawan Downs Recap -
Lightning strikes in first try over jumps
KMSN Stable's Lightning Strike made his debut over hurdles a winning one, taking the opener -- a $20,000 maiden for sophomores -- in wire to wire fashion under Parker Hendriks for trainer Keri Brion.
Here comes the Judge.
Making his first career start at age 4, Sharon Sheppard's Chosen Judge sat just off the pace for much of the 2 mile going, then took charge around the final turn heading toward the last fence and withstood a closing charge by Irv Naylor's Travesuras to take the second race, a $30,000 maiden hurdle.
The Irish-bred winner, ridden by Mikey Hamill, was one of three victories on the seven-race card for leading trainer Leslie Young.
Rocket One soars in $25,000 handicap.
Riverdee Stable and Ten Strike Racing's Rocket One began his NSA career last April and in just four starts, the Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief has made the most of those opportunities.
Following two seconds and a victory in maiden special weights company, the four-old, trained by Jack Fisher, gutted out a win in on Saturday in handicap competition, scoring by a head over Bruton Street-US' South Mountain.
Total Joy romps in allowance hurdle.
Noble Stables' Total Joy gave trainer Leslie Young her second winner on the card when the Irish-bred son of Ribchester scooted off to a 10-length victory in the fourth, a $35,000 allowance for non-winners of two.
Ridden by Freddie Procter, the four-year-old is now a perfect two-for-two since coming over from Europe earlier this season. In his first start, at the Radnor Hunt Races in May, he defeated Irv Naylor's Gold Charm by a neck. Gold Charm would go on to win the $75,000 Randolph Rouse Stakes for fillies and mares at Colonial Downs in her following start.
Salamanca School breaks maiden over timber.
Making his first start since last November, Fat Chance Farm's Salamanca School gave Leslie Young a training hat trick and Freddie Procter a riding double, with a runaway victory in the $15,000 timber maiden at 3 1/8 miles.
With a stalking trip behind owner-trainer Elizabeth Korrell's Don't Shout, ridden by Virginia Korrell, the six-year-old French-bred son of Rock of Gibralter was in charge by the time the field turned for home, opening up a big lead over the last and coasting home by nine lengths. Don't Shout hung on for second, with Happenstance Stable and Achsah O'Donovan's Hero's Return (Brett Owings) third.
Chosen Mate leads from start to finish in the apprentice timber race finale.
Armata Stable's Chosen Mate, a veteran of 34 starts over five season, continued to add to his productive 2023 resume with his third score of the season in the finale, a $7,000 timber allowance restricted to apprentice riders.
With Virginia Korrell aboard for trainer Ricky Hendriks, Chosen Mate began with a flourish and ended with a kick, going wire to wire to prevail by 2 1/2 lengths over a late-charging Schoodic. Schoodic, owned by Dolly Fisher and trained by Jack Fisher, is a multiple stakes winner over timber and hurdles. The 13-year-old Tiznow gelding's best days may be behind him, but he was unhurried early, hit his best stride in mid-stretch, and closed stoutly, showing he still has plenty of late kick.
More photos at www.todmarks.photoshelter.com
Foxfield Recap
By Tod Marks
Eye of Gunfighter wins shootout in maiden claimer
Virginia Korrell, who had a winner on the final race on Saturday at Shawan Downs, picked up where she left off on Sunday, piloting Hickory Made Stables and Celtic Venture Stable’s’ Eye of Gunfighter to a front-running score over eight rivals in a $15,000 maiden claiming hurdle at 2 ⅛ miles.
Sprinting to the lead at the flag drop, the six-year-old Pennsylvania-bred, trained by Larry Smith, led by as much as five lengths and repelled challenges at one time or another from Tom Rice’s Secret Soulmate, Runnymoore Racing’s Codigo, and a late surge by Vivian Rall’s Icandothat, who finished second, under rider/trainer Sean McDermott, beaten two lengths. Louisa Stevens and Achsah O’Donovan’s Greylover (Jamie Bargary) was third.
In his lengthy, 54-race career, Eye of Gunfighter has seesawed between flat and jump racing. This was his first victory over hurdles.
The Hero Next Door makes heroic return
Michael Smith’s The Hero Next Door, a budding star en route to victory when he fell at the final fence in the Green Pastures novice stakes at the Iroquois Races in May, made his first start since his mishap in the second at Foxfield, a training flat race.
Ridden by Mikey Hamill for trainer Leslie Young, The Hero Next Door was content to sit in second in the field of 11 going 1 1/4 miles, as Shannon Hill Farm’s Sliabh Aughty, with Tom Garner, exploded to a huge lead and nursed his advantage until running out of gas near the final turn. At that point, The Hero Next Door snatched the lead and prevailed in a hand ride by 2 ½ lengths over Sonny Via’s late-closing Welshman (Graham Watters). Leipers Fork Steeplechasers’ Fast Vision was third.
The victory by The Hero Next Door sets the Irish-bred four-year-old up for the fall’s big races to come, notably steeplechasing’s championship day at Far Hills on Oct. 21. The lightly raced gelding had won his first two starts impressively and had a clear lead in the Green Pastures when he fell.
Afraid Not takes $30,000 filly & mare maiden
Bonnie Rye Stable’s Afraid Not, another runner who has alternated between flat and jump racing, defeated nine foes by 3 ¼ lengths in the maiden special weights hurdle for fillies and mares at 2 ⅛ miles.
Breaking alertly under Gerard Galligan, the Julie Gomena-trainee set the pace as Atlantic Friends Racing’s Lacey Underall and Mell Boucher stalked in second. But with two fences to go, the field bunched up and fanned across the course, and it looked like any one of the eight runners had a legitimate shot. Heading to the final fence, Buttonwood Farm’s Lady’s Game (Tom Garner) made her move on the outside, but Afraid Not had plenty left and actually drew off powerfully in the final furlong. Lacey Underall fought back to finish second, with Lady’s Game 4 ½ lengths behind in third.
Newcomer Garrison Forest takes down nine foes in $30,000 maiden hurdle
The third time proved a charm for Leipers Fork Steeplechasers’ Garrison Forest. The four-year-old Irish-bred, who began his career with two previous unplaced starts over the summer at Colonial Downs, benefitted from those experiences with a come-from-behind victory in the fourth race, another maiden special weights event at 2 1/8 miles.
With Freddie Procter riding for Leslie Young, the Walk in the Park Gelding broke in midpack, rallied on the outside from seventh after the ninth fence to pass the frontrunners, Northwoods Stable’s Look North, with Jamie Bargary, and Gill Johnston’s Active Duty (Tom Garner). Active Duty was tough as nails and dug in, until Garrison Forest drew clear by a length and a half in the final strides. Look North was four lengths behind Active Duty in third.
Arrowheart makes it back-to-back wins with $25,000 handicap score
Starting slowly and waiting patiently to strike, Charlie Fenwick’s Arrowheart took charge after the first mile and didn’t look back, drawing off by nearly 10 lengths in a handicap for horses rated at 110 or less at 2 ¼ miles.
The five-year-old New York-bred Hard Spun Gelding, a veteran of a dozen starts on the NYRA circuit, entered the race off of a layoff of nearly 11 months. In his previous start, he captured a maiden claiming hurdle at the Montpelier Hunt Races.
The win was also the second straight on the card for both trainer Leslie Young and jockey Freddie Procter.
Content to sit in midpack as Ann Jackson’s Left Blank and Elizabeth Scully set the early pace, Arrowheart assumed control with two fences to go, widening his lead with every stride. Buttonwood Farm’s Baltimore Kid, ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, came within striking distance with a quarter mile to go, but faded. After a poor start, Paul and Molly Willis’ New Appointment rallied to finish third under Mell Boucher.
Who’s Counting an easy winner in $35,000 handicap
In a third win on the day for horses who have concurrently competed on the flat and over jumps, South Branch Equine’s Who’s Counting pounced on Genet Racing’s Wicked West after the second to last fence, cut the corner on the far inside and spurted clear to take the finale at Foxfield, a 120 handicap at 2 ¼ miles, by 6 ¾ lengths.
Trained and ridden by Sean McDermott, the five-year-old Maryland-bred won for the first time since consecutive victories at Colonial Downs in 2022, a starter allowance on the flat over turf, and a handicap over fences.
When Wicked West (ridden by Tom Garner) weakened in the late going, Bruton Street-US’ Presence of Mind (Jamie Bargary) launched his bid from sixth at the10th fence and appeared as if he’d be in the thick of things, but was unable to gain ground on the winner. William Russell’s Animal Kingston (Graham Watters) was third.
Save the Date: THE VIRGINIA FALL RACES, October 14th, 2023
By vafallraces.com
Experience the annual fall tradition in the lovely Middleburg hunt country at The Virginia Fall Races, where your only interruption to a relaxing day will be the cheer of 10,000 excited fans and the storming of thundering hooves! Take part in The National Steeplechase Association's (NSA) 128th year and 69th running of the Virginia Fall Races on Saturday, October 14, 2023.
Come sense the history while watching steeplechase action at the oldest continuous race course in the state of Virginia. Glenwood Park and the rolling race course on its grounds sits amongst the lush hunt country one mile off of Route 50 in Middleburg. The 112-acre park was established in 1911 and is maintained today by a private trust left to the people of Virginia by the late Mr. Daniel C. Sands, a local fox hunter and avid sportsman.
This year's running promises to be one of the leading meets on the 2023 Fall Steeplechase Circuit. The day starts at 9:00 A.M. with the Finals of the Theodora A. Randolph Field Hunter Championship. The flag drops for the first race of the day at 12:30 P.M. with an afternoon of first class timber and hurdle racing.
Highlighting this year's meet is the National Sporting Library and Museum Cup with its purse of $30,000, which brings the best-seasoned timber horses to run over the famous Glenwood course against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023
7:00 AM Gates open for the North American Field Hunter Championship Final
9:00 AM Theodora A. Randolph North American Field Hunter Championship
10:00 AM Gates Open to the Public
12:30 PM Post Time for the first race
6:00 PM Gates Close
For more information, visit the website at vafallraces.com
Save the Date: The Genesee Valley Hunt Races, October 14th, 2023
By gvhraces.com
The Genesee Valley Hunt Races are like no other event in the area. What began over 125 years ago as a grand day of picnicking with friends and neighbors has evolved into a multi-faceted day of fun for young and old alike. It’s a day that combines tradition, community and family all in a beautiful outdoor setting on conserved farmland in the Genesee Valley. Tailgating remains a huge part of the day and it’s still the only event in the state where spectators can watch sanctioned steeplechase races over timber jumps!
There’s lots for the kids to do (including stick horse races and pony rides), food and drink vendors, wine and craft beer tasting, shopping, music and more. It’s like an old-fashioned country fair with a race track instead of a midway, and there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
For more information, visit the website at gvhraces.com
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