BERRYVILLE, Va.--Ricky Hendriks saddled Grahamzilla to win the $20,000, 2 mile Maiden Starter/Maiden Claiming Hurdle at the Blue Ridge Point-to-Point on Saturday, April11.

Ricky HendriksLeamington Racing's Grahamzilla, ridden by Graham Watters, won by 1 1/2 lengths over Coal Boss, trained by Kate Dalton, and Lord Donegal, trained by Neil Morris.

"We got Grahamzilla about three or four months before the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup, and he won the flat race there," said Hendriks. "Peter McCausland''s Leamington Racing is a new owner for me."

:Grahamzilla was second at Aiken," said Hendriks. "Conor Tierney rode him there, but he's hurt, so Graham filled in for us."

"He was a big, gangling horse when we got him," said Hendriks. "Jessica McCabe worked with him. She did a lot of dressage with him. It was exciting to see him come together. Maybe he'll go to Willowdale next."  

Kate Dalton saddled Hard Par, owned by MBH Stable, Soda Rock Stable and Dalton and ridden by Bernie Dalton, won the second division of the $20,000 Maiden Starter/Maiden Claiming Hurdle by 2 1/4 lengths over El Bello, trained by David Bourke, and Hello Newman, trained by Barry Foley.

Hard Par went right to the front and led all the way, running comfortably, and won easily, an impressive first race.

 

LESLIE YOUNG saddled Noble Stables' Total Joy (Ire), ridden by Freddie Procter, to win the $15,000, 3 mile Maiden Timber by 2 3/4 lengths over Evie's Prince, trained by Morris, and Court Dunn (Ire), also trained Young.

"I was delighted with him," said Young.  "He went up the ladder fast in hurdles and ran out of conditions. So we changed him to timber."

Morris saddled That's Not Funny, owned by Molly and Paul Willis and ridden by Jamie Bargary, to win the $30,000 Maiden Hurdle by 1/4 length over No Yield, trained by Dalton, and Verbal, trained by Young.

In the unrecognized section, Joel Smith trained and rode Fancy Adare to win the $1,000 Foxhunter's Race over Godlovesasinner, trained by Teresa Croce, and Neoqueen, trained by Erin Storey,

Morris saddled Modern Master to win the Novice Rider Flat, Lawrence Smith saddled T Rex to win the Virginia Bred Flat and Henriks saddled Christmas Surprise to win the Maiden Flat.