In the Open Hurdle (l-r) is Prima Facie (Jeff Murphy up) and Kingofalldiamonds (Jacob Roberts up), the winner. / Douglas Lees photo
The turf was good, the day cloudy and cool, and, for a few moments of variety, a snow shower floated down upon the Old Dominion Point-to-Point Races at Ben Venue Farm, Virginia, on Saturday, April 9, 2016. The eight-race card included hurdle, timber, and flat races, most of them well-entered.
Noble Stables’ Kingofalldiamonds won the Open Hurdle race for the second consecutive year over the Old Dominion course. It was trainer Neil Morris’s second win of the day, and the horse’s second win in as many races this season. (Kingofalldiamonds won the Open Flat race at the Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point last month.) Jacob Roberts was in the irons for both outings this season as well as for last year’s hurdle win—this day substantially repeating his winning strategy from the earlier flat race. Roberts allowed Daybreak Stables’ Manacor to set the pace and, with three fences remaining, took over the race and won by four-and-a-half lengths going away.
Straight To It (Conor Hankin up) wins the Open Timber race. / Douglas Lees photo
In the Open Timber race, Straight To It under Conor Hankin shadowed Ed’s Big Bet, took command with three furlongs to run, and cruised through the finish line with a twelve-length margin for trainer Jack Fisher.
In the Lady Rider Timber race, Old Timer and Diana Gillam survive for the win. / Douglas Lees pgoto
Something happened on the way to a possible third straight Lady Rider Timber win for the brown gelding, I’m Telling, owned, trained, and ridden by Emme Fullilove. With a commanding lead after two times around the three-mile course, Fullilove misjudged the finish line and was ruled off course, errantly followed by Brave Prospect and Sweet Talking Guy. All three horses were disqualified. The easy win went to Diana Gillam on Old Timer, one of only two eligible horses remaining in the race.
In the Amateur/Novice Rider Hurdle race, Skunk (right) with Emme Fullilove up is the first horse to beat Erin Hope’s Slaney Rock to the wire in any race this season. / Douglas Lees photo
The day wasn’t all bad for Emme Fullilove, however. Earlier, in the Amateur/Novice Rider Hurdle race in a six-horse field, she piloted Ronald Blankenship’s Skunk for trainer Neil Morris to that horse’s first win of the season. Erin Swope’s Irish-bred Slaney Rock, just coming off a strong win at Warrenton, set the pace as is his usual custom, but got Skunked in the stretch by the winner.
In the snow, Woods Winants aboard Rutledge Classic wins the Amateur/Novice Rider Timber race, shown here leading Duc De Savoie (James Slater up). / Douglas Lees photo
Rutledge Classic, trained by Eva Smithwick, ridden by Woods Winants, and owned by Indian Run Stables, repeated his last year’s win over the Old Dominion Timber course, this time in the Amateur and Novice Rider Timber race.
Sarah Shaffer and trophy after winning the Novice Rider Flat race on Purim Party. / Douglas Lees photoPurim Party, despite being deprived of a kosher menu at his home stable, Bacon Barn (no kidding!), won the Novice Rider Flat race handily under Sarah Shaffer in the eight-horse field for trainer Kristin Close.
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Posted April 20, 2016