CAMDEN, S.C.--Abaan, trained by Kate Dalton, won the featured $75,000 Carolina Cup Novice Hurdle Stakes, while Arch Kingsley, with two wins at the Carolina Cup Races on March 30, went into the early lead in Trainer, Races Won with  total of three wins to date..

Abaan, left, out dueled The Hero Next Door in the Carolina Cup (Photo by Tod Marks)
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners Abaan, ridden by Bernie Dalton, won by 2 1/4 lengths over The Hero Next Door, trained by Leslie Young, finishing in the fastest time of the day, 3:53 4/5 over the 2 1/8 mile course..

"For once, it panned out exactly how I'd figured it," said Dalton. "I figured Leslie's horse would be on the lead with Jack Fisher's horse and that we'd be last, but with only four horses in the field I knew there wouldn't be much distance from first to last, as no one would want anyone to get away. In the end, it worked out that we had the fastest horse."

"He'd won over $400,000 for Todd Pletcher before I got him,"said Dalton. "He was second first time out for me, and now he's won three in a row."

Abaan was a graded stakes winner on the flat with earnings of $531,290, running from 2020 through April, 2023.

 

SWITCHED to hurdles by Dalton, Abaan was second in a Maiden Special Weight at Colonial Downs last Aug. 11, won a Maiden race at Colonial on Sept. 8 and then won the Foxbrook Champion Hurdle Stakes at Far Hills on Oct. 21 before his win at the Colonial Cup.

"He's a pretty impressive looking horse," said Dalton. "He's very aloof, but he gets a little worked up before he works. When he gets on the track he does what we call his dancing. He goes sideways with ballet moves. Galloping, he's a great ride."

Hopefully, if he comes out of this race okay, he'll go in the Novice Stakes at Iroquois," said Dalton.

Kingsley saddled Hurricana Farm's Sherkali, ridden by Parker Hendriks, to win the $25,000 Maiden Claiming Hurdle by 2 lengths in 4:00 2/5 over King of Tsavo, trained by Young and also saddled Richard C.Colton's Feeling Festive (Ire) to win the $30,000 Maiden Hurdle by 1/2 length in 3:59 over Snow Geese, trained by Dalton.

Hendriks, Leading Jockey in 2022, with his two wins at Camden went into a tie for Leading Rider, Races Won with Bernie Dalton, with three wins apiece.

Laird George saddled Clarke Ohrstrom's Lightning Rod, ridden by Gerard Galligan, to win the first Maiden Hurdle by 1 length in 4:09 4/5  over Memento, trained by Kingsley.

Richard Valentine saddled Mrs.George L.Ohrstrom's Tease and Seize (Fr),ridden by Galligan, to win the $30,000 Ratings Handicap Hurdle by 19 1/2 lengths in 4:01 4/5 over Dante's Fire, trained by Neil Morris.    

The Training Flat was won by St. Rita Racing's China Beach, trained by Ted Thompson and ridden by Dalton, over Our Boy Wes, trained by Keri Brion.