Fair Hill, MD, May 26, Review
The first race, the Foxhunters Race, was won by Joe at Six, ridden by Michele Hunter, trained by Paddy Neilson. The field was well spread out at the end of the race, due to the race conditions (we seemed to have had rain the entire month of May). Second was Melting and our pick, Kebo Valley was a very tired third. The second race, the first training flat race on the card, was won by the Neil Morris trained Buckharo, with Matt McCarron aboard. Golden Marvel was a good second, coming off a long lay off, certainly a decent horse a couple of years ago. One Sea made up the trifecta.
The third race, possibly the best finish of the day, with Chuck Lawrence just getting the best of Will Mann, driving Imperial Gold to beat Naughty Prince by a head. These are two stake horses, laying it all out on the line. Zignal, finishing third, and only beaten a length, has to be one to watch in the future. This was his first race and he is trained by Neil Morris. We were close for the trifecta, as we picked the right horses and just got the exacta upside down.
The fourth race, a maiden claiming hurdle, went to Navesink View, a Holy Bull gelding who seemed to relish the soft conditions and destroyed this field for rider Jody Petty (with plenty of local support on hand). Local Treasure, our pick, under David Bentley, finished second, but could not trouble the winner. Running in Style, trained by Jack Fisher was third.
The fifth race went to Flying Contraption, Chip Miller's first of three winners on the card. Second was Peking Picnic for the Fisher Gus Brown combination, third going to The Bruce with Robert Massey in the irons. The sixth race, the Timber Race, was the second win on the day for Chip Miller with Mr. Rockeby. A masterful ride, with good patience, he came from behind to get up to beat Wild Choice and Tom Foley. Bobsintheblues, with Jeff Murphy, completed the trifecta.
The seventh race, the Miles Valentine Stake, the highlight on the card, was also the highlight of our tipping, as we picked our first trifecta. Dynability, ridden by Gus Brown for Jack Fisher bested Najjm with Chip Miller riding for his father. Brinton Bridge, with last years champion, David Bentley in the irons, finshing third. This was a great race and a close one at the wire. Lets hope we see them running against each other at Colonial Downs.
The eighth race, Iron County Xmas continued our tipping success for rider trainer Chip Miller (Chip's third on the day). This was a decent race and the winner took it up coming off the turn and did not look back. The very consistent Greek Hero, with Matt McCarron up, followed him home a respectable distance, with Mr Fater third for the Tom Voss stable.
The ninth race, the second training flat race, went to the class horse of the field, and our tip, Trebizond for Tom Foley and Kathy Neilson. He took it up early and did not look back. This race was, however, not without excitement, as Pucci, a first time starter for the Entermann stable was flying at the finish under a rousing ride from Chris Wardman. Definitely a horse to follow over turf this summer. Third was Marine. The final race was a wonderful wire to wire performance of Tycho's Star under amateur rider Tina McDaniels. Second was Earmark, Will Mann's second second on the day. Third was Northern Leopard for Geoff Brutscher. This was an exacta for Ricky Hendricks. Our pick scratched from the race, so we are sitting a three race win streak, going into the Belmont stake a week today.
posted by Alex @ 4:19 PM
