American 'Chasers: A Busy Season at Home and Abroad

by Laurel Scott Duncan

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Up in Virginia, the Strawberry Hill meet -- which recently lost its traditional venue at the State Fairgrounds -- was transferred temporarily to the Old Dominion's only parimutuel racetrack, New Kent's Colonial Downs. Unfortunately, unusually heavy rains made traffic and parking a nightmare for racegoers and horsemen alike. But when all was said and done, rider Matt McCarron was the toast of Strawberry Hill, with key wins in the featured $20,000 allowance (with Kay Jeffords' Bruce Miller-trained Yellowroad) and the maiden claimer (with William Russell's Easy Wonder, conditioned by Don Yovanovich).

Ninepins

Also on April 15, leading moneyearner Ninepins took American hopes for a ride in Japan -- and came back ninth of 16 starters in the $1.4 million Nakayama Grand Jump near Tokyo. Race favorite Gokai, a Japanese horse with an American sire, won by 3/4 of a length over the French horse Boca Boca. Sources close to jockey Arch Kingsley Jr. said that the turf was soft, and Ninepins got "shuffled back" early on -- but the veteran was not disgraced, jumping as professionally as ever over the unfamiliar obstacles. Late April Hurdle Action Hurdle competition then moved to Middleburg, Virginia for the star-studded Middleburg Spring Races on April 22.

Here, in the verdant hills of the Old Dominion's choicest hunt country, the Grade II, $50,000 Temple Gwathmey is the race to win. Even a broken foot from an earlier accident at Pimlico Race Course couldn't stop Matt McCarron from steering Sharon Sheppard's Greek Hero to a wire-to-wire victory in this rich event. The Alicia Murphy trainee -- who won the Paul Mellon stakes over this course last year, and holds the distinction of being the top New York-bred 'chaser -- rebuffed several challenges in his season debut to win convincingly.

April 22 was also the day of the Block House Races in Tryon, North Carolina. A smaller meet with lots of down-home appeal, its centerpiece is the $30,000 Century BMW Block House Stakes, won this year by Dr. Ramsey in an upset over 1999 winner Hard News. It was the first steeplechase stakes win for this entry of Cary Jackson, who was trained by Marylander Jack Fisher (of Saluter fame) and ridden by hot apprentice Jonathan Thomas. Thomas went on to record a second win with Duraznillo, in the open claimer.

Another Block House winner of note was jockey Arch Kingsley Jr., who doubled with Little Caveat in the allowance, and Snoqualmie in the maiden. Next, the 'chasers converged on Lexington, Kentucky's stately Keeneland Race Course for the Grade I, $185,875 Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings. Contested at 2 1/2 miles over the National Fences, it was the richest race on the NSA calendar. And it went to none other than Nancy Gerry's 1998 Eclipse Award winner Flat Top, who returned from nearly a year and a half off to knock the socks off stablemate Campanile (Jonathan Kiser), whose own star had been on the ascendant until his Carolina Cup disqualification. Trained by Pennsylvanian Janet Elliot and ridden by Blythe Miller, Flat Top came from off the pace to engage Campanile on the final turn. He sprinted away to a 1 1/2-length win, with Pinkie Swear getting up for third before a huge crowd of screaming fans.

'Chasers closed out the month of April at North Carolina's Queen's Cup on April 29. Originally known as the Charlotte Steeplechase, this meet recently relocated to a fine new course at Brooklandwood, near Mineral Springs. Powerhouse Augustin Stable was out in force here, taking the $25,000 Sport of Kings maiden with the Sanna Neilson-trained Lord Zada (Adam Trinder) and the $20,000 open timber race with the F. Bruce Miller-trained Southwoods (Geoff Brutscher).

Also on April 29 were the Foxfield Spring Races, held in the beautiful university town of Charlottesville, Virginia. The big news here was Kay Jeffords' homebred Skillogalee, a full-sister to five-time Eclipse Award winner Lonesome Glory. With Blythe Miller in the irons, she won the $20,000 allowance hurdle feature in fine style, defeated Lochnagar and Homage in the process. Look for this one in the bigger races come fall -- she's a winner!!