Julie Gomena trained three winners at Orange County

Details: April 5, 2019; By SARA CAVANAGH

MIDDLEBURG, Va.--Julie Gomena of Middleburg trained three winners at her home meet, the Orange County Hounds Point-to-Point, on March 31.

Gomena began her winning spree with Stonelea Stables LLC's Devil's Wrangler, ridden by Sam Cockburn, in the Maiden Flat.

"Devil''s Wrangler was supposed to run at Aiken, but he didn't have a pony with him, and he had trouble getting to the start, and they disqualified him," said Gomena. "He didn't refuse to start, he just had trouble getting there. So we thought the best thing to do was to run him in a point-to-point, with my pony taking him to the start."

Devil's Wrangler had no trouble at Orange County and raced well, winning by 8 lengths.

Gomena saddled Bon Nouvel Chasers LLC's Menacing Dennis, ridden by Shane Crimin, to win the Open Hurdle by 2 1/2 lengths.

"MENACING DENNIS was the National Steeplechase 3-year-old champion in 2017," said Gomena. "He had soundness problems and didn't race last year, so this was the first time he has run in a year and a half. I couldn't have been more please with him. "We'll run him in the non-winners of two at Middleburg."

Gomena also trained the winner of the Open Timber, Michael A. Smith's Le Chevalier, ridden by Kieran Norris.

"Le Chevalier is a super horse," said Gomena. "He's won a couple of stakes, but he has been difficult in the past. We has a new rider on him in Kieran, so we wanted to see how it would go. We're hoping to go to Middleburg Spring and then to the Gold Cup."

Jonathan Sheppard saddled Buttonwood Farm's Colonel Moorhead, ridden by Aaron Simmott, to win the Novice Rider Flat.

Holiday Mousse, owned by William Russell, trained by Neil Morris and ridden by Jacob Roberts, won the first division of the Novice Timber, and Curve of Stones, owned by S. Rebecca Shepherd and ridden by Barry Foley, won the second division.

King of the Road, owned by Ellerslie Farm, trained by Jeff Murphy and ridden by Graham Watters, won the Maiden Hurdle, and Overdrawn, owned by Gordonsdale Farm, trained by James Piper and ridden by Norris, won the Open Flat.