NEW KENT, Va.--Bickley, trained by Jack Fisher, owned by Mrs. S.K. Johnston and ridden by Jamie Bargary, won the $40,000, 2 1/4 mile Maiden Special Weight hurdle race at Colonial Downs on Aug. 29.

Bickley winning at Colonial (Photo by Coady Photography)Racing mid-pack in the eight horse field through much of the race, Bickley made a big move after the last fence and went on to win by 5 1/4 lengths in 4:00.79.

Bickley raced on the flat in 1920 for Mrs. Johnston before being switched to hurdles and trained by Fenneka Bentley, who raced him through 2020 and 2021 until he fell in July 2021.

"He fell at Colonial Downs," said Fisher. "Fenneka called me and said she really loved that horse. He almost died when he fell."

Fisher said that Fenneka felt she couldn't handle  training jumpers any more, and she suggested that I take him.

Bickley has since raced twice for Fisher, finishing second at Tryon in April and at Iroquois in May, both in maiden special weight hurdle races.

The plan ad not been to go to Colonial," said Fisher." But I needed something to train before Snap (Decision), and he went so well we decided to sent him to Colonial."

 

MARK BEECHER saddled Lucy A.Goelet's Ludicrous Mode, also ridden by Bargary, to win the $30,000 Maiden Special Weight Starter hurdle by 3 lengths in 4:13.22.

Bargary also rode the winners of both races at Colonial a coupleof weeks ago.

Ludicrous Mode winning at Colonial (Photo by Coady Photography)"This was only Ludicrous Mode's second start over fences," said Beecher. "He had a nice run here four weeks ago in his first race over fences. He improved off that."

Ludicrous Mode ran on the flat from 2019 through March of 2022, mainly in claiming races

"I acquired him privately," said Beecher."I'd followed what he'd done, and Brett Owings, who rides for me, knew him and recommended him, so we just went and acquired him."

"I have a certain type of horse that I like, and he fit that," said Beecher. "He has the makings of a nice horse. I'm looking forward to his future,"

"With only two runs in him, he's still green over fences," said Beecher. "Maybe there will be a fall campaign in allowance races. For now, we'll just enjoy today. It's hard enough to win races."

Fog Bound lost his rider over the first fence, but the gelding continued to race along side the leading horses, often jumping head to head with the leader, but luckily never actually interfered with any of the horses until after the turn into the stretch when he bothered a couple of horses and then split the leaders going to the finish line.