Virginia-bred claims Virginia Gold Cup
Submitted by: Betsy Burke Parker
Phone: 540-364-2929
Email Address: betsyp(at)crosslink.net
Date Added: 5/6/2009
Virginia-bred claims top prize
One 'Mo' time for Gold Cup winner
By Betsy Burke Parker
The Hoof Beat
THE PLAINS, VIRGINIA. May 2, 2009 – On paper, the May 2 Virginia Gold Cup read like one for the history books. The last two winners of the timber classic -- 2007 winner Salmo and 2008 winner Bubble Economy – were entered, along with five other quality winners, all in with arguably superb chances to win.
And for once, the actual race lived up to the hype, with the $75,000 stake measured by a scant two lengths after four miles as Irv Naylor's Salmo beat two-time national champ Bubble Economy in a close decision.
On a soggy Great Meadow course Saturday, the 84th running of the nation's richest timber race had the ingredients of an epic tale right from the nomination stage: Virginia-bred Salmo is a confirmed front-runner, flashy-faced and a bold jumper. Bubble Economy is a stalker, dark and threatening as he looms just off the pace in his races, waiting until the final stages to unleash his explosive, patent late move. J. Alfred Prufrock and amateur owner-rider Conrad Somers nipped at Salmo's heels throughout much of the four miles, Somers boldly sticking to the inside of the course and Prufrock fencing well and creating something of a traffic jam for those late to the pace. Erin Go Bragh, newly on a special thyroid medicine his trainer believes will move him up lengths, looked fresh and fit in the paddock, his local connections spilling out of their tailgate space along the Meadow homestretch rail.
In the end, though, Salmo handled everything the class field tossed at him, putting on a jumping clinic and winning in hand for 21-year-old apprentice rider Darren Nagle. “He just did it. Easy,” said the Irish native, adding that the strapping chestnut “enjoyed himself” winging on the pace.
Outsider J. Alfred Prufrock stuck like glue to the leader, actually taking command briefly at the race's halfway point.
Looming just off the head duo was form-heavy Bubble Economy, two-time timber champ and winner of the last two timber stakes at Great Meadow (last spring's Virginia Cup and last fall's International Gold Cup). Bubble Economy won his Cup tune-up, the April 18 Middleburg Hunt Cup, putting him atop the odds board as the race started.
Nagle knew to respect his rival, but he was confident on the lead. Nagle said he noticed reigning champion jockey Xavier Aizpuru and Bubble Economy a few lengths back as the field rounded the sharp bend to the water jump, fence 19 of 23 with just over a half-mile to run, but Nagle kept his cool and Salmo put in a superb leap. Just off Bubble Economy, Erin Go Bragh nosed into contention at 20 as the group straightened up the long homestretch.
Nagle knew they had him in their sights.
Keeping his cool, Nagle stayed still on Salmo, allowing him to jump out of hand over the final three fences. When Bubble Economy chipped at the second last, the race was all but over. Though Bubble Economy offered a mild bid after the last, Salmo held off his drive to win. Erin Go Bragh was just back in third. J. Alfred Prufrock was fourth.
Thirteen-year-old Salmo won the '07 Gold Cup when trained by Jack Fisher (trainer of Bubble Economy) and ridden by Chip Miller. The leggy chestnut was bred in Casanova by Sara and Bruce Collette. Coincidentally, the Collette's Pageland Farm is next door to Spring Hill Farm, where top 3-year-old Kentucky Derby contender Quality Road was born.
The son of Northern Baby made a third Gold Cup victory for Maryland-based owner Irv Naylor.
“Darren gave him a beautiful ride,” gushed the current leading timber owner. “He was always a winner,” he said of the front-running effort.
Naylor said Nagle “gets along famously with the horse” because he “leaves him alone. Naylor said that rangy Salmo is “not so adroit. He can't adjust (his stride) that easily. He likes to gallop and jump.”
Trainer Desmond Fogarty agreed. “(The horse) likes this course ... there's a nice lean to the fences. He likes to meet his fences long, and these invite it,” Fogarty said.
Fogarty said the footing, softened by race-week rain, favored bigger Salmo. “Bubble Economy prefers firm ground,” he explained. Runner-up rider Aizpuru, who rode Bubble Economy for trainer Jack Fisher, verified. “The ground didn't suit,” said the reigning champion rider. “The conditions didn't make it easy for him. Granted, he ran a tremendous race, but it just wasn't his day. I have to credit Salmo's connections.”
Third-placed rider Paddy Young was complementary of the winner as well, but he figures Erin Go Bragh ran a cracker of a race to finish just off the lead pair. “He ran like a champ,” Young said of the New Zealand import.
Fogarty suggested that Salmo would likely be shelved until the fall. Beaten barely a neck by Bubble Economy in the 3 1/2-mile International Gold Cup last fall, that October race was an obvious target, he said.
** Salmo's winning connections:
Breeder: “We're thrilled,” said breeder Sara Collette, grinning widely as she headed towards the winner's enclosure, where Salmo's owner Irv Naylor had invited them to take part in the awards ceremony.
Collette is no stranger to the Great Meadow winner's circle: though she sold him to Naylor several years ago, she was invited to the winner's circle when Salmo won the 2007 Gold Cup, the last Virginia-bred winner since Saluter controlled the race 1994-1999.
Collette, who runs Pageland Farm in rural Casanova in Fauquier County with husband Bruce , said that Salmo's 24-year-old mother Melantha, also a Collette homebred and timber winner herself, has “decided that she's retired” from breeding. A rangy bay by Vast Empire, Melantha was placed over hurdles and won over timber in her brief jump race career. Melantha has another active timber winner currently on the circuit, Genghis, who still races for the Collette's Pageland Farm.
Salmo was sired by 'chase specialist Northern Baby, a Canadian-bred stakes winner in France and England before entering stud at Kentucky's Stone Farm. Northern Baby sired winners of more than $3.5 million over jumps, including champions Warm Spell and Highland Bud, plus 33 stakes winners of more than $26 million on the flat.
Northern Baby died in 2007, two months almost to the day before Salmo's first Gold Cup score.
Owner: Winning owner Irv Naylor, 73, current and defending leading timber owner, was himself an avid amateur jockey until a crushing fall with Emerald Action in the 1999 Maryland Grand National timber stake left him paralyzed and in a wheelchair. Naylor actively supports the search for a cure for spinal-cord injuries and has given $3 million to fund research at Michigan State, and even donated his own stem cells for the project. Naylor owns the Ski Liberty and Ski Roundtop resorts in Pennsylvania.
Trainer: Desmond Fogarty, 35, moved from his native Ireland in 2002, landing first in Kentucky where he galloped horses at the track before moving to California to work in construction, putting to use his college civil engineering degree for a couple years. Horses proved too strong a siren call, and he soon moved back east to work with fellow Irishman Tom Foley, who was at the time training a few for Naylor in central Virginia. Fogarty moved to Naylor's farm and signed on as his private trainer in 2006.
Rider: Irish bug rider Darren Nagle won his first U.S. race in 2006. The 21-year-old had five National Steeplechase Association victories before the 2009 season. He rides first call to Fogarty.
Virignia connections continued throughout the day at Gold Cup, with all but one winner having direct ties to the commonwealth.
Jockey Carl Rafter, who lives just a couple miles from Great Meadow near The Plains, steered Perry Bolton's Scuba Steve to repeat victory in the unique Steeplethon race. Winner of the 3-mile jumping contest (with timber and hurdle fences, plus stone walls, high hedges, an open ditch and a water splash) last fall, Scuba Steve led at every call.
Charley and Susan Strittmatter's Clorevia Farm in Flint Hill was represented by maiden winner Better Be Ready, Jody Petty up.
Middleburg's Kinross Farm won the allowance hurdle with When The Saints. Liam McVicar was aboard.
Jacqueline Ohrstrom's Four Schools, Robbie Walsh, rallied to win the starter allowance hurdle, holding off a late challenge from Bow Strada. Four Schools is trained at Whitewood Farm in The Plains by Richard Valentine.
Sunday at the Bull Run Hunt Point-to-Point, starters were way down at the rain-swept Brandywine Park near Culpeper. Donna Rogers' Big Breeze, Nick Carter up, was the winner of the de facto feature restricted maiden timber.
Results
Virginia Gold Cup Races
Junior Virginia Gold Cup. Pony division. 1. Circe, o/Frank McClendon, r/Teresa Croce; 2. Minuet, o/r Madeleine Lohr; 3. Ridgetop Moya, o/Marynell Eyles, r/Isabella Eyles.
Horse division. 1. Orpington, o/r Mary Motion; 2. Untamed Hero, o/r Scarlett Lovett; 3. Smokey, o/Thistledown Farm, r/Tate Shaw.
Maiden hurdle. Purse: $25,000.
1 Better Be Ready 154 Jody Petty Clorevia Farm Edward L. Graham $15,000
2 Bullet Dancer *149 Liam McVicar S. Bruce Smart, Jr. Jimmy Day $4,500
3 Whistling Deputy 154 Xavier Aizpuru Mrs. Henry F. Stern Jack Fisher $2,500
4 Imperial Way 140 Padge Whelan Estate of Henry T. Rathbun Thomas H. Voss $1,250
5 Global Genius (Ire) 154 Robert Walsh Whitewood Stable, Inc. Richard L. Valentine $1,000
6 Country Cousin 154 Carl Rafter Oakwood Stable Julie Gomena $750
7 Sonic Charm 154 James Slater W. Russell Cline Donald Yovanovich
8 Artist's Stroke 154 Bernard Dalton Diana Gillam Jeremy Gillam
9 Expel 154 Jeff Murphy Northfield Farm, LLC Edward Mulligan
10 Indy Run *149 Roddy MacKenzie EMO Stables Doug Fout
11 Class Crash 140 Richard Boucher Star Ten Stable Lilith Boucher
PU Sermonize 149 Darren Nagle Irvin S. Naylor Desmond Fogarty
PU Cahill's Touch 154 Paddy Young North Wales, LLC Doug Fout
PU Mr. Pike 154 Danielle Hodsdon Macy S. Pike Jonathan E. Sheppard
Winning Margin: 1 3/4 Winning Time: 5:09 Turf: good
Better Be Ready, dk.b./br. g. 2004, by More Than Ready - Bendita, by Baldski. Bred by Dr. & Mrs. Gary T. Priest (Ky)
Second Race $25,000. The Infinitive Steeplethon. About 3 miles over the Steeplethon Course
1 Scuba Steve 160 Carl Rafter Perry J. Bolton Katherine N. McKenna $15,000
2 Major Malibu 155 William Dowling Mrs. Henry F. Stern Jack Fisher $4,500
3 Cat Walkin 155 Jody Petty Donald Yovanovich Donald Yovanovich $2,500
4 Profowens (Ire) 155 Richard Spate Emma Wettern Barbara McWade $1,250
PU Incaseyouraminer *150 Benjamin Swope Benjamin C. Swope Benjamin C. Swope
Winning Margin: 1 1/2 Winning Time: 6:12 Turf: good
Scuba Steve, b. g. 2000, by Distorted Humor - Frigid Zone, by Procida. Bred by Charles Nuckols, Jr. & Sons (Ky)
Third Race $30,000. The Creighton Farms Chase Allowance Hurdle. About 2 1/2 miles over National Fences
1 When The Saints *139 Liam McVicar Kinross Farm Neil R. Morris $18,000
2 Terpsichorean 148 Danielle Hodsdon Bright Brook Farm LLC Jonathan E. Sheppard $5,400
3 Rainiero (Chi) 156 Jody Petty Augustin Stables Sanna N. Hendriks $3,000
4 Right Hand Red *147 William Santoro Ivy Hill Stable Alicia S. Murphy $1,500
5 Red Letter Day 156 Bernard Dalton Gregory D. Hawkins Janet E. Elliot $1,200
PU Dynantonia 156 Colvin Ryan Colvin G. Ryan Julie Gomena
PU Bawdy Ballad 138 James Slater Karen M. Gray Karen M. Gray
PU Bee Charmer (Ire) 156 Robert Walsh Whitewood Stable, Inc. Richard L. Valentine
PU Seeking No More 152 Xavier Aizpuru Arcadia Stable Jack Fisher
Winning Margin: neck Winning Time: 4:54 Turf: good
When The Saints, b. g. 2002, by Saint Ballado - Outlasting, by Seattle Slew. Bred by Jon Kelly (Ky)
Fourth Race $20,000. The Nova Nordisk Starter Allowance Hurdle. About 2 1/2 miles over National Fences
1 Four Schools (Ire) 150 Robert Walsh Mrs. George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. Richard L. Valentine $12,000
2 Bow Strada (GB) 154 Chip Miller Calvin Houghland F. Bruce Miller $3,600
3 Duke of Earl (Ire) 150 Xavier Aizpuru Mrs. Henry F. Stern Jack Fisher $2,000
4 Cuse 146 Carl Rafter Karen M. Gray Karen M. Gray $1,000
5 Swimming River 146 Mark Watts Joseph K. Kornfeind Paul A. Rowland $800
6 Humdinger *153 Liam McVicar Kinross Farm Neil R. Morris $600
7 Fabi's Legacy 150 Richard Spate Linda B. Klein Linda B. Klein
PU Fantorini 146 William Dowling Harold A. Via, Jr. Jack Fisher
Winning Margin: 1/2 Winning Time: 4:56 2/5 Turf: good
Four Schools (Ire), b. g. 2002, by Raise A Grand (Ire) - Haanem (GB), by Mtoto (GB). Bred by Mrs. Teresa Bergin (Ire)
Fifth Race $75,000. The Virginia Gold Cup Timber Stakes. About 4 miles over Timber
1 Salmo 165 Darren Nagle Irvin S. Naylor Desmond Fogarty $45,000
2 Bubble Economy 165 Xavier Aizpuru Arcadia Stable Jack Fisher $13,500
3 Erin Go Bragh (NZ) 165 Paddy Young Magalen O. Bryant Doug Fout $7,500
4 J. Alfred Prufrock 165 Conrad Somers Conrad S. Somers Conrad S. Somers $3,750
5 Orison 165 Carl Rafter EMO Stables Doug Fout $3,000
PU Seeyouattheevent 165 William Dowling Arthur W. Arundel Jack Fisher
PU South Monarch 165 Jody Petty Augustin Stables Sanna N. Hendriks
Winning Margin: 2 1/4 Winning Time: 8:33 3/5 Turf: good
Salmo, ch. g. 1996, by Northern Baby - Melantha, by Vast Empire. Bred by Mrs. Sara E. Collette (Va)
Sixth Race $10,000. The Chairmans Cup Maiden Claiming Hurdle. About 2 1/2 miles over National Fences
1 The Manner Born $12,500 144 Danielle Hodsdon William L. Pape Jonathan E. Sheppard $6,000
2 What A Prize (NZ) $15,000 156 Paddy Young Cary W. Jackson Doug Fout $1,800
3 Meshwaar $12,500 152 Colvin Ryan Aylor Racing Stable William Aylor, Jr. $1,000
4 I Hear Banjos $10,000 134 William Dowling Kinross Farm Neil R. Morris $500
5 Society Milliner (Ire) $10,000 *143 Liam McVicar Randleston Farm Jimmy Day $400
5 Rosemont Runner $10,000 148 James Slater Mary Fleming Finlay Mrs. D. M. Smithwick $400
7 The Editor $15,000 142 Jeff Murphy Martin P. Fleming Edward Mulligan
8 Dutch Smoke $10,000 *143 Darren Nagle Karen M. Gray Karen M. Gray
9 Gatornation $10,000 148 Carl Rafter Move Up Stable & Garrick Steele Katherine N. McKenna
10 Wadi Rum $15,000 148 Robert Walsh Cranmore Stables Joseph C. Walsh
Winning Margin: 3/4 Winning Time: 5:13 2/5 Turf: good
The Manner Born, gr./ro. f. 2004, by Waquoit - Peerless Peeress, by Lord Avie. Bred by Jonathan E. Sheppard (Pa)
Results
Bull Run Hunt Point-to-Point
First Race The Inskeep Family Race Novice Rider Flat. About 1 3/4 miles on the Turf
1 Cozy Lane 160 Bruce Daley W. Gary Baker Mrs. D. M. Smithwick
This race was a walkover.
Winning Margin: Winning Time: Turf: soft
Cozy Lane, gr./ro. g. 2003, by Cozy Drive - Cushina, by Holy Bull. Bred by Larry Johnson (Va)
Second Race Quarter Horse Flat. About 1/4 mile on the Turf
1 Izzy's Clus Kid 160 Scarlett Lovett Fred & Christine Getty Fred & Susan Lester
2 Al's Terminator 160 Lacey Heider Lacey Heider Lacey Heider
Winning Margin: 15 Winning Time: :33 Turf: soft
Third Race The C. Warren Harrover Memorial Maiden Flat. About 1 3/8 miles on the Turf
1 Xoxoxo 147 Nick Carter Warren Owens William Aylor, Jr.
2 Master Glide 155 Bruce Daley Indian Run Farm Mrs. D. M. Smithwick
3 Bargain's Shadow 150 Natasha Aylor C. L. & J. L. Page William Aylor, Jr.
Winning Margin: 9 Winning Time: 2:38 Turf: soft
Xoxoxo, gr./ro. f. 2005, by Raffie's Majesty - My Very Own Angel, by Halo. Bred by Warren Owens (Va)
Fourth Race The J. Carl Kincheloe Memorial Novice Timber. About 3 miles over Timber
1 Endless Mountain *155 Jacob Roberts Indian Run Farm Mrs. D. M. Smithwick
2 Glide King 165 Nick Carter Donna T. Rogers Mrs. D. M. Smithwick
PU Crimson Lode 155 Michael Cooney DMC Stable Diana L. McClure
Winning Margin: 1/8 mi. Winning Time: 7:21 Turf: soft
Endless Mountain, dk.b./br. g. 2002, by Shuailaan - Meet With Pete, by Anticipating. Bred by Hurstland Farm, Inc. & Mr. & Mrs. J. Kelly Murphy, III (Ky)
Fifth Race The Kenward K. Harris Memorial Open Flat. About 1 3/8 miles on the Turf
1 Sweep Domino (Chi) 160 Roddy MacKenzie EMO Stables Ernest M. Oare
2 Berchta's Brew 165 Nick Carter W. L. & D. J. Aylor, Jr. William Aylor, Jr.
3 Cozy Lane 160 Michael Cooney W. Gary Baker Mrs. D. M. Smithwick
4 Sudden Concern 170 Bruce Daley W. Gary Baker Mrs. D. M. Smithwick
5 Let Georgie Do It 155 Jacob Roberts William K. Dove, II William K. Dove, II
Winning Margin: 12 Winning Time: 2:39 1/5 Turf: soft
Sweep Domino (Chi), b. g. 1999, by Mashaallah - Sweep Day, by Cox's Ridge. Bred by Haras Carioca (Chi)
Sixth Race Restricted Maiden Timber. About 2 1/2 miles over Timber
1 Big Breeze 165 Nick Carter Donna T. Rogers Mrs. D. M. Smithwick
2 First Effort *155 Sam Cockburn Rehilian Racing Stable David Bourke
3 Bisque d'jour *155 Jacob Roberts Barbara Smith & Carole Garcia Barbara Smith
4 Tumultuous *155 Darren O'Brien Darren O'Brien Darren O'Brien
Winning Margin: 10 Winning Time: 5:21 Turf: soft
Big Breeze, b. g. 2004, by Standing On Edge - Whisper Foot, by Aye's Turn. Bred by Donna T. Rogers (WV)
Seventh Race
Light Draft Horses Light Draft Horse Race Flat. About 1/2 mile on the Turf
1 Corian Sarah Frederick Kathy Broaddus Kathy Broaddus
2 LB Ruby Sam Cockburn Lilyberry LLC Lani Newcomb
3 LB Coral Jeff Woodall Lilyberry LLC Kathy Broaddus
4 LB Beryl Kristin Ford Wheatland Poultry Lani Newcomb
Winning Margin: 1/2 Winning Time: 1:05 2/5 Turf: soft
Heavy Draft Horses Heavy Draft Horse Race Flat. About 1/4 mile on the Turf
1 Sessuela Nicolle Villers Ivy Leaze Farm Nicolle Villers
2 Granite Sarah Frederick Lani Newcomb Kathy Broaddus
Winning Margin: 5 Winning Time: :35 3/5 Turf: soft
Eighth Race
Junior Field Masters Chase. About 1 1/2 miles
1 Untamed Hero Scarlett Lovett Scarlett Lovett Scarlett Lovett
by Partner's Hero - Untamed Melody, by Sultry Song. Bred by Arnold Davidov & Mary Eppler (Md)
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