Racing

Chub Wagon wins Parx Stakes, Dickinson, Jenkins and Houghton have winners

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June 28, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

BENSALEM, Pa.--Last year's Horse of the Year, Chub Wagon, bred and  parially owned by Danny Lopez, made her 2022 debut a winning one, with jockey Silvestre Gonzalez aboard, in the $100,000 Power by Far Stakes on June 27, at Parx Racing.

Chub Wagon winning the Power by Far Stakes (Photo by Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO).Chub Wagon won the 5 furlong Stakes by 3/4length over Hey Mamaluke.

Lopez began his career rider open jumpers on Long Island,, N.Y., before turning to training.

He retired from training in 2020 but retains an interest in Chub Wagon, whom he co-owns with George Chestnut.

Chub Wagon, a 5-year-old Pa-bred mare, is now 11 for 12 lifetime under the training of Guadalupe Preciado.

She won her first race, a Waiver Maiden Claimer, at Parx on Nov. 16, 2020, then won three allowance races before beginning her stakes career.

From April of 2021, Chub Wagon has run in eight stakes, winning seven and placing second in the eighth.

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Motion, Hendriks, Matz and Houghton have winners

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June 23, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

WILMINGTON,, Del.--While Graham Motion was in England saddling Spendarella to place second in the Coronation Cup at Royal Ascot, he still had three winners in this country, two at Delaware Park and one at Belmont.

King Vega winning at Delaware Park (Photo by HoofprintsInc.com)"I'm very proud of how the filly ran," said Motion of Spendarella's second. "She just got to Churchill today (Thursday, June 23), where she'll be in quarantine. Most likely she will point now for the Del Mar Oaks."

Motion said that he was"immensely disappointed" that the turf track at Fair Hill was still not open after almost three years.

He said if trainers had known how long the track would be unusable they might not have gone along with plans to redo the track.

"It's incredibly frustrating to drive by it every day and not be able to use it," he said. "I would have used it two or three times to get Spendarella ready to go to England."

While Motion was in England, HPG Thoroughbreds' King Vega won a $42,000, 1 1/16 mile turf Allowance Optional Claiming race at Delaware Park by 3/4 length on June 18.

Also at Delaware Park, Stone Farm's Seduce won at $40,000, 1 1/16 mile Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-old and up fillies.

Seduce won the turf race by 1 1/2 lengths.

Newcal Stables' Chulainn won an $85,000, 1 1/8 mile turf Allowance Optional Claiming race by a nose at Belmont on June 19.

"We had a good run," said Motion.

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Spendarella runs a very good second at Ascot

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June 20, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

ASCOT, England--Spendarella, undefeated in three previous races in this country, ran a superb race in the Group 1, 1 mile $675,000 Coronation Cup on the turf on June 17 at Royal Ascot, just beaten by the great race filly Inspiral but beating a strong field of 10 3-year-old fillies that included a number of Group 1 winners.

Spendarella winning the Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland in April (Photo by Coady Photography)"I would rather be in the winner's circle," said trainer Graham Motion. “But she ran great. I couldn’t be more proud of her. William (Buick) had her in the perfect spot; she was very brave to hang on for second, I thought, to be honest."

Rather than taking an American jockey to England, Motion, a native of Great Britain, chose to ride Buick, a top English jockey,, saying he decided to use a rider familiar with the track.

“The winner’s very good," said Motion. Spenderella’s very tough. I think she’s a Grade One filly and she proved that today. She’ll go back to the States now. I think she’s really a miler, she showed that today, and we’ll need to look at that schedule.

“I don’t come over here really just for the hell of it," said Motion, looking very dapper in his morning coat during his interview following the race,. "I have to feel good about it to come. We’ve run second a couple of times now, so I feel like I know what it takes, and this filly was very good today — the winner — but I think we’ve proved we’re Grade One class.”

Motion previously saddle Sharing to also place second in the Coronation Cup in 2020.

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Hendriks, Houghton, Motion, Matz, Jenkins and Dickinson have winners

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June 15, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

UNIONVILLE, Pa.--Ricky Hendriks saddled Be the Boss to win a $32,040 Maiden Special Weight at Presque Isle on June 6.

Wendy Hendriks at RadnorBe the Boss runs in the name of Debra Kachel but is actually owned by Kachel and Ricky and Wendy Hendriks.

"I bought him at the Timonium December mixed sale," said Wendy. "He was owned by Kurt Weikopf. He said he named the horse after his wife. I thought that was amusing. We ran him at Penn National in January, and he was second, then we ran him at Parx in late January. The track was deep, and he didn't like it and  ran badly."

"We took him home and gelded him," said Wendy. Ricky has his barn in Unionville. "Then we ran him at Belmont in May ,and he was third, and the he won at Presque Isle. He's running back in an allowance optional claiming on the turf at Delaware Park on Thursday."

Be the Boss was bought from the consignment on Marshall Silverman for $38,000.

BERNIE HOUGHTON had two winners at Penn National, including a $28,000 Allowance winner in Kilimanjaro, owned by Theresa Rooney Meis.

Kilimanjaro ran third early , was four wide on the turn and went on to win by a head in the 6 furlong race on May 26.

Lil Bear Saloon, bred by Betsy Houghton and owned by Douglas Gibson, won a $13,600.1 1/16 mile Claiming race by 7 1/2 lengths on May 21.

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Leslie Young won three at Radnor, including the featured Rating Handicap Hurdle with Court Ruler

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May 22, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

MALVERN, Pa.--Leslie Young saddled three of the five winners at the Radnor Hunt Races on May 21, including Court Ruler (Ire) in the $30,000, 2 1/8 mile Rating Handicap Hurdle.

Court Ruler jumps the last in the Ratings Handicap (Photo by Tod Marks)On an unseasonably hot and humid Saturday in May, with temperatures reaching the mid 90s, there appeared to be only one horse adversely affected by the weather, and that one was quickly administered to and recuperated quickly.

"My horses didn't have any issues," said Young. "We made sure they had plenty of water, fluids,and we gave them electrolytes."

Leipers Fork Steeplechasers' Court Ruler, ridden by Harry Beswick, won the Handicap by 1 length over Animal Kingston, trained by Neil Morris in a 10 horse field in which six finished and four pulled up.

"I was very happy with Court Ruler," said Young. "We got him in Ireland because he was a bleeder. But he didn't bleed today. Harry gave him a beautiful ride, just stalked the pace and came on to win. Do I think he's stakes materiel? No. We'll see what his rating is, and maybe make him a timber horse."

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Graham Motion saddled three winners in one day, including a G1 Stakes winner, while Houghton had five winners and Matz, Dickinson and Jenkins also scored

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May 19, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

ELMONT, N.Y.--Graham Motion had three winners on Saturday, May 14, including Highland Chief in the G1, $700,000, 1 3/8 mile Man o' War Stakes on the turf at Belmont.

Highland Chief winning the Man o' War Stakes (Photo by Janet Garaguso)He is also still planning to take Spendarella to England to run in the Coronation Cup at Ascot on Friday, June 17..

"Spendarella will leave on June 7," said Motion. "We'll go over the week of the race. I'll probably breeze her the Monday before the race."

Mrs. Fitriani Hay's Highland Chief, in winning the Man o' War, ran second early on, swung four wide into the stretch and went on to win by 1 length in only his second race in this country.

The 5-year-old stallion had previously run in England, where he was stakes placed.

"He came to me last fall," said Motion. "We gave him a little break and then ran him in an allowance race before this race. He'll run in the Manhattan on Belmont day."

Motion also had two winners at Pimlico on May 14.

Wertheimer et Frere's Serifos won a $46,690, 11/16 mile Maiden Special Weight by 3 lengths, and The Grass is Blue won a $56,000, 5 furlong Allowance Optional Claiming race by 2 3/4 lengths.

"It was a really good day," said Motion. "It's been a while since I had a day that good, Highland Chief is an exciting horse. Grade one races are hard to come by."

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Joe and Teddy Davies win two at Potomac

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May 17, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

SENECA, Md.--Joe Davies saddled two winners at Potomac Hunt Races on Sunday, May 15, both ridden by son Teddy.

Teddy DaviesGerry Brewster and Richie Blue's Grey Ghost won the $1,500, 2 mile Maiden Hurdle by 1 1/2 lengths over Peace Nicker, trained by Julie Gomena.

"We claimed Grey Ghost a year ago and then ran him back on the flat at Colonial," said Joe Davies. "He was second in a $50,000 Maiden race with Forrest Boyce riding."

Davies ran him back on the flat a number of times after claiming him, with that second at Colonial his best finish.

"This winter, Teddy has been schooling him over fences," said Davies."This was his first start over fences.He's entered back at Radnor, and hopefully he'll go to Colonial this summer."

Davies saddled his wife Blythe's Brave Deacon, again ridden by Teddy, to win the $1,500 Open Hurdle by 2 lengths over Golazo, trained by Alicia Murphy.

"Brave Deacon fell in a race last fall, then this spring he was second at the Blue Ridge Point-to-Point," said Davies. "Then he won Saturday. It was only a two horse race, but it was still a good win. He'll run back at Colonial."

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Leslie Young wins three at Willowdale, goes into the lead in Trainers, Races Won

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May 16, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa.--While Leslie Young was in Nashville, Tenn., saddling two winners at Iroquois, three of her horses won at Willowdale Steeplechase on May 14, propelling her into the lead in both Trainer, Races Won and Trainer, Money Won.

Andi'amu, right, and Storm Team duel early in the Virginia Gold Cup, as Andi'amu went on to win (Photo by Tod Marks)Ballybristol Farm's Andi'amu (Fr), ridden by Freddie Procter, won the featured $35,000. 3 1/2 mile Willowdale Steeplechase Timber Stakes by 16 1/2 lengths over Withoutmoreado and Awesome Adrian, both trained by Kathy Neilson, in a three horse field.

Andi'amu ran second for most of the race, going to the lead on the final turn and extending for the win.

"For years we've followed  the same plan of running him in a steeplethon at Great Meadow and timber stakes at Middleburg and the Gold Cup," said Young. "But after he won the Gold Cup last week, he was bucking and kicking. So when the race at Willowdale came up so light, we decided to enter him. With the end of timber racing now, we'll put him away for the summer and run him again this fall."

Leipers Fork Steeplechasers' Perfect Tapatino (Fr), ridden by Procter, won the $10,000, 2 1/4 mile Apprentice Rider Hurdle by 19 3/4 lengths over Chief Justice (GB), trained by Cyril Murphy.

"I was disappointed in his performance at the Queens Cup," said Young. "He got into a speed duel there, tired, and was pulled up. We wanted an easier spot for him for his confidence. He got weight off with Freddie ridding."

"I got him for $11,000 at a Keeneland sale," said Young. "He's got ability. We'll think about sending him to Saratoga."

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Snap Decision wins the G1 Iroquois, Leslie Young goes into the lead in Trainer, Races Won

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May 16, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Facing Pistol Whipped (Ire), a touted hurdle winner from across the sea, Snap Decision, ridden by Graham Watters, hung just outside his foe during the $150,000, G1, 3 mile Calvin Houghland Iroquois Stakes, went into the lead on the final turn and went on to win by 7 1/4 lengths on Saturday, May 14.

Snap Decision leads over the last fence in the Iroquois Stakes (Photo by Tod Marks)Owned by Bruton Street-US, Snap Decision has now run his skein of wins over hurdles to 10, and he won the Iroquois for the second year in a row.

"He's the horse of a lifetime for us," said Charlie Fenwick, who along with Mike Hankin and Charlie Noell owns Bruton Street.

Snap Decision's win, along with the win of another Bruton Street horse, Proven Innocent, showed why Fisher has dominated the Leading Trainer lists for so many years.

"For both races, Jack laid out a plan, and then the jockeys executed the plans perfectly," said Fenwick.

Pistol Whipped, trained by Nicky Henderson, was a handicap hurdle winner in England and had been expected to be a serious contender in the seven horse field, and he did finish second, 2 1/4 lengths in front of Amschel (GB), trained by Cyril Murphy.

But Snap Decision, a beautifully bred class horse, ran back to his top form and looks to be a force to deal with this summer.

Two other Fisher trained horses, Moscato and Brianbakescookies, were fourth and fifth respectively.

Iranistan, who won the Temple Gwathmey over Snap Decision, was done early and was pulled up, as was Historic Heart, both trained by Keri Brion.

Fisher said that Anthony Speelman's Pistol Whipped had been brought to this country to be sold, but that he wasn't interested in buying him and didn't know if anyone had bought the horse.

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Kathy Neilson wins two at Winterthur

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May 11, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

WILMINGTON, Del.--Kathy Neilson won two races for two owners. including the featured Winterthur Bowl Allowance Timber, at Winterthur Races on Sunday, May 8.

Withoutmoreado leads Boutonniere over last at Winterthur. You can see his front toe just clipping the top rail (Photo by Tod Marks)Winterthur has become an area favorite, so, despite the chilly Mother's Day that followed two days of rain, a large group of spectators still turned out, with plenty of tailgaters.

Irv Naylors's Withoutmoreado (Ire), ridden by Neilson's daughter Skylar McKenna, won the $25,000, 3 1/4 mile Winterthur Bowl by 11 lengths over Master Seville, trained by Mark Beecher,in 6:514/5.

Withoutmoreado was being challenged by Boutonniere, trained by Leslie Young, when Boutonnniere fell at the last fence, leaving the field open to Withoutmoreado.

"I've had Withoutmoreado for about three years,"said Neilson. "I bought him from Hamish McCauley  in England. He fell in his first start for us three years ago, which set him back. Skylar has been incredible with her efforts schooling him. He's her favorite in the barn.

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Keri Brion wins four and Leslie Young wins three at the Virginia Gold Cup

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May 10, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

THE PLAINS, Va.--Despite horrendous weather, a large crowd turned out at the Virginia Gold Cup at Great Meadows on Saturday, May 7 to see Keri Brion and Leslie Young battle it out, trading wins back and forth, with Brion celebrating her birthday by eventually coming out on top, winning the seventh race for a total of four wins to Young's three.

Andi'am,i right, with Storm Team early in Virginia Gold Cup Timber Stakes (Photo by Tod Marks) Brion and Young between them won every race on the card, but as one of Brion's wins was in the $50,000 Flat Stakes it didn't count towards National Steeplechasing's Trainer, Races Won total.

So at the end of the day, Brion remained one up in Races Won over Young, but Young won one timber race the next day at Winterthur to leave the two of them tied with 13 wins apiece with three meets left in the spring season.

Parker Hendriks, who at only 18 years of age leads by large margins in both Jockeys, Race Won and Money Won, thanked both the owners and  the Gold Cup's management team after two of his three wins on the day with a graciousness and poise amazing for anyone, much less one so young.

"Parker is the best rider out there," said Brion of her stable jockey. "He's also the best person out there."

Brion started the day by saddling Buttonwood Farm's Baltimore Kid (Ire), ridden by Hendriks, to win the $30,000 Maiden Hurdle by 3 lengths over Project Two (Ire), trained by Young.

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Todd Wyatt's Be Counted & Lonely Weekend run 1, 2 at Middleburg P-to-P

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May 5, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

MIDDLEBURG, Va.--Todd Wyatt saddled Be Counted to win by a nose over Lonely Weekend, also trained by Wyatt,  at the Middleburg Point-to-Point on May 1.

Be Counted, left, and Lonely Weekend over the last fence (Photo by Betsy Burke Parker)Peter and Sarah Jay's Be Counted, ridden by Colin Smith, led for most of the race with Riverdee Stable's Lonely Weekend, ridden by Tom Garner, tacking him until the final fence, when the two jumped together, with Be Counted just nosing out his stablemate at the wire.

"Be Counted won at Piedmont earlier this year," said Wyatt. "He's a nice horse that we had running over hurdles before. We're pretty excited to have him running over timber now. He'll probably run next at Willowdale."

Be Counted won three times on the flat in claiming races and then won twice over hurdles before being converted to timber this year,

"Lonely Weekend will run back at Winterthur," said Wyatt.

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Jack Fisher wins two at Foxfield

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May 4, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.--Jack Fisher saddled two winners, one of hurdles and one over timber, at the Foxfield Spring Race on April 30.

Jack Fisher Harold A. Via, Jr.'s Welshman, ridden by Graham Watters, won the $25,000, 2 1/8 mile Maiden Hurdle by 8 3/4 lengths over Cause for Pardon, trained by Leslie Young.

"I bought Welshman from Barclay Tagg," said Fisher. "I ran him once on the flat and then at Old Dominion Point-to-Point."

Fisher said he ran last at Old Dominion, but that he doesn't let his horses run at point-to-points so that they won't get hurt.

"He'll probably go to Nashville in the novice," said Fisher. "It looks like a fairly easy race."

"Turbo Drive gave us a nice lead,"said Watters. "This was a great win for Jack."

"This horse came in from the back door, off the flat track," said Via. "He's just 4. He's a really nice horse. We're happy to have him."

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Vintage Vinnie won the Maryland Hunt Cup and set another new track record for the second year in a row

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May 3, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

GLYNDON, Md.--Vintage Vinnie (Ire)d, ridden this year by 18-year-old Teddy Davies, romped away with the Maryland Hunt Cup for the second year in a row, and for the second year in a row set a new track record of 8:15 while winning ,according to official records, by 62 lengths, although in fact he was crossing the finish line while the horse closest to him was still two fences from home, which seemed more than 62 lengths.

Although it now costs, the live stream was horrendous, but here is the video of the race with both announcing and shots of Vintage Vinnie.

Armata Stable's 13-year-old gelding led a times by well over 100 lengths, at one point about to jump the huge 13th while the rest of the field was jumping the 12th.

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Keri Brion saddled three winners at the Queen's Cup, including French Light in the Novice Stakes

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May 2, 2022

By SARA CAVANAGH

MINERAL SPRINGS, N.C.--Keri Brion saddled three of the five winners at the Queen's Cup on Saturday, April 30, including French Light (Fr) in the $50,000 Queen's Cup Novice Stakes, and she  moved into the lead in Trainers, Races Won by one race over Leslie Young.

Brion leads with 10 wins to Young's nine, with Jack Fisher third with four wins, and Brion also leads in Trainer, Money Won, while Brion's stable jockey Parker Hendriks leads in Rider Races Won and Money Won.

French Light ,left, out duels Decisive Triumph over the last fence in the Queen's Cup Stakes (Photo by Tod Marks)There were only four entries in the Novice Stakes, and Mr. Alec, trained by Arch Kingsley, broke down early, was pulled up and vanned off, then Perfect Tapatino, trained by Leslie Young, was pulled up after the 11th fence, leaving the field to French Light and Decisive Triumph, trained by Mark Beecher.

Irv Naylor's French Light and Port Lairge Stables and Holwood Stable's Decisive Triumph jumped the last fence together, and French Light, ridden by Parker Hendriks, pulled ahead to win by 3/4 length in 4:40 1/5 for the 2 3/8 mile race.

"French Light is a really nice horse," said Brion. "He's my favorite horse in the barn. He's no longer a novice after that race. He was rated at 124 before the race, so he'll probably stay in the 130 rated races. He'll go to Saratoga for either the 130 rated races or one of the stakes.."

CFC Stables' Spring Heeled Jim (Ire), also ridden by Hendriks, won the $30,000 Maiden Hurdle by 1 3/4 lengths over Eternal Story (Fr), trained by Young, finishing the 2 1/8 mile race in 4:08.

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