Maiden Hurdle Race, second division: Gostisbehere (Graham Watters up) leads the field over the last fence and is first at the wire. / Douglas Lees photo
Old Dominion Hounds (VA) held their spring Point-to-Point races once again in springtime! What’s unusual about that?” one might ask. Last year, Old Dominion was the first of the Virginia hunts to stage their spring races in the autumn, after Covidstopped our lives in March. Warrenton’s point-to-point last year on March 14th, its usual time, was the last of two spring races (Rappahannock on March 7th) until Old Dominion gave horsemen a day of racing on September 12th followed by Blue Ridge on September 19th. Without spectators, however.
So this spring has been a welcomed return to semi-normalcy. We’re not completely there yet, but we’re close enough to consider this spring special…and to appreciate it as such. The turf was good and entries were healthy enough for the ten-race card of hurdle, timber, and flat racing.
Coming off a second-place finish in Warrenton’s Open Flat Race the week before, Go As You Please won the first race, Amateur/Novice Rider Hurdle. Sophie Henelius was the rider in both races. After being content to stalk the frontrunner, Ebullience, much of the way around, Henelius and the bay mare made the most of her stretch run and got her head in front of Ebullience at the wire. Go As You Please is a six-year-old bred by Maggie Bryant in Kentucky. She is owned by Beverly Steinman and trained by Doug Fout who saddled two winners this day. As did trainer Kate Dalton.
The second race, Maiden Hurdle, was split into two divisions—a five-horse and a nine-horse field, respectively. Team Dalton won the first division with Riendo, giving jockey Bernie Dalton his first of two wins for the day as well. Riendo stayed in touch with the leader, Embrace the Grind, during his trip around and passed him after the last hurdle. Riendo is owned by his breeder, Edition Farm, in New York
In the second more populated division of the race, Gostisbehere, ridden by Graham Watters and trained by Jack Fisher, crossed the finish line two-and-a-half lengths ahead of Team Dalton’s Hayabusa One. Watters had two wins in the saddle this day, too.
Lady Rider Timber Race: Cocodimama (Chloe Hannum up) is first. / Douglas Lees photo
The Lady Rider Timber Race finished one-two as in the last contest between the ladies at Piedmont. Cocodimama and Chloe Hannum finished first, followed by Bridge Builder and Erin Swope second. The lead changed between the top three finishers during the race, but at the last fence, Cocodimama, trained by Emily Hannum, out-jumped them all and pulled away to win by six lengths. Hannum and Swope shared top honors in the 2019 Virginia Lady Rider Timber Series racing different horses.
Amateur and Novice Rider Timber Race: Undisclosed (Bryan Cullinane up) holds his lead to win. Jaleo (Connor Hankin up) finishes third. / Douglas Lees photo
Trainer Doug Fout’s second win also came in the Amateur/Novice race, this time over the timber course. Undisclosed with Bryan Cullinane aboard took over the lead and held it through the second circuit around the course, holding off the stalking Canyon Road to win by a length-and-a-half. Cullinane was Leading Novice Rider Over Fences in Virginia in 2019. Undisclosed, an Irish-bred seven-year-old bay gelding, is owned by Sharon Sheppard.
Open Hurdle Race: At the last fence is (l-r) Prayer Hope (Graham Watters up) who finished second to Razoul (Bernie Dalton up), the winner. / Douglas Lees photo
Team Dalton was back with the winning entry in the Open Hurdle Race. Razoul, a six-year-old Irish-bred bay gelding trained by Kate Dalton and ridden by Bernard Dalton, took over the lead at the final turn and won handily by two-and-a-quarter lengths. Of the field of eight horses, four were trained by Jack Fisher and two by Doug Fout. Strong company!
Open Timber Race: Number 1, the winner, Fletched (Forrest Kelly up) leads Preseli Rock (Connor Hankin up) and Schoodie (Haddon Frost up), second and third respectively. / Douglas Lees photo
The Open Timber Race drew a field of only three contenders, two of which were trained by Jack Fisher. The winner, Fleched, was ridden and trained by Forrest Kelly who is whittling away at his bugs. Fletched went to the front from the start, was never challenged, and won by twelve lengths.
Side Saddle Race winner Sky Babe is ridden, trained, and owned by Julie Nafe. / Douglas Lees photo
The five-horse Side Saddle Race produced the same one-two finish seen at the first Warrenton races in March. Once again, Sky Babe earned the trip to the winners’ circle with owner/trainer/rider Julie Nafe. Out-dueled at the finish, Devon Zebrovious’s Soul Approval had made it a running battle for the lead around the course but was behind by a neck at the finish.
Virginia Bred/Sired/Certified Flat Race winner Vincent Van Gogo, Graham Watters up. / Douglas Lees photo
In his second start this season vying for the Virginia Bred/Sired Flat Race series championship, Vincent Van Gogo repeated his earlier win at Piedmont. Ridden by Graham Watters and trained by Neil Morris as before, he went to the front from the start and held it wire to wire. With a half-mile to run, Erix made a bid but couldn’t sustain it and finished second.
Click for complete results of all races. Results are assembled and published by Will and Kathleen O’Keefe on the website of the Central Entry Office for Steeplechase Racing in Virginia, Maryland, and the Delaware Valley.
Posted May 6, 2021