HOLLYWOOD, S.C.--Julie Gomena saddled Risk Taking to win the $35,000 Allowance Hurdle at Steeplechase at Charleston on Sunday, Nov. 9.

Risk Taking and Bernie DaltonStonelea Stables' Risk Taking, ridden by Bernie Dalton, won the 2 3/8 mile race by 13 1/2 lengths in 4:28 3/5 over Cainyoudothetwist, trained by Arch Kingsley, and Brie's Mission, trained by Kathy Neilson.  

That was a nice end to the year," said Gomena.

"I've had Risk Taking for three years now." she said. "I bought him at the Keeneland fall sale. He'd been trained by Chad Brown, and he ran in the Preakness."

Risk Taking had sold for $240,000 as a yearling, and he won the G3 Withers as a 3-year-old.

Gomena bought Risk Taking for $75,000.

"He was a raging, screaming stallion, so we had him gelded." said Gomena. "I ran him first at Colonial, and he blew a tendon, so he had a year off."

"He's still a keen horse, so if he runs up front against another horse he runs himself out, so we always tuck him in behind," she said. "He's one paced, so he needs to close on speed."

"He'll get a vacation now," said Gomena. "He's now officially a novice, so we'll bring him out again next spring."

 

MARK BEECHER saddled Turk's Head Turf's Rejection Hurts, ridden by Dan Nevin, to win the $25,000, 2 3/8 mile Ratings Handicap Hurdle by 12 3/4 lengths in 4:25 4/5 over Benjis Benefit (Ire), trained by Kingsley, and Minella Plus (Ire), trained  by Tom Garner. 

Neil Morris saddled Slingshot Racing's Laker Mamba, ridden by Graham Watters, to win the first division of the $20,000, 2 1/16 mile Maiden Claiming Hurdle by a neck in 3:53 3/5 over Harrenhal (Ire), trained by Ricky Hendriks, and Pudding Lane, trained by Kate Dalton.

William Wofford saddled Forever Hopeful to win the second division by 21 lengths in 3:53 over Coal Boss, trained by Dalton, and Noble Gem, trained by Dalton.

Morris then saddled Magic Tap, ridden by Watters, to win the $30,000 Maiden Hurdle by 2 1/4 lengths in 3:58 3/5 over Moreperfection, trained by Keri Brion, and Thomas Aquinas, trained by Garner.

Morris was Charleston's leading trainer, and Watters was leading rider.

Watters also solidified his hold on NSA's Rider, Races Won with 24 wins to Dalton's 13 wins and Steve Mulqueen's 12 wins, and he also leads in Money Won with $956,300 to Dalton's $834,350.

With only three meets left, Watters is virtually uncatchable.

Jack Fisher will repeat as Trainer, Money Won with $1,179,100 over Brion with $692,800 and Leslie Young with $636,400, and also in Races Won with 26 wins over Young with 17 wins and Beecher with 14 wins.

Riverdee Stable leads in Owner, Money Won with $518,700 over Bruton Street-US with $378,600.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4378,600/