WARRENTON, Va.--Richard Valentine won two races at the Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point on Saturday, March 18, including the Open Hurdle over a field of nine.
Richard ValentineKeri Brion and Jack Fisher, second and third placed 2022 Leading Trainers, each had a Maiden Hurdle winner, while last year's Leading Trainer Leslie Young won a flat race, jockey Mel Boucher rode three winners and Jaimie Bargary rode two.
Mrs.George L.Ohrstrom Jr.'s Tease and Seize (Fr), ridden by Boucher, won the Open Hurdle by 1 1/2 lengths over Riverdee Stable's Gordon's Jet, trained by Fisher and ridden by Graham Watters.
"Tease and Seize was brought over last year," said Valentine of the 5-year-old who ran twice in this country last year, finishing sixth in the stakes at Far Hills and then falling at the last at Great Meadow. "He was bought to run in the Carolina Cup, but he fell apart mentally. We gave him some time."
"He's matured a lot," said Valentine. "He ran well yesterday, and Mel got along with him. We'll nominate him for the Carolina Cup. Hopefully Mel will keep riding him."
Ohrstrom's Connagh's Quay, also ridden by Boucher, won the Amateur/Novice Rider Hurdle by 1/2 length over Brown Delivers, trained by Joe Davies and ridden by Teddy Davies.
CONNAGH'S QUAY is a nice horse," said Valentine. "He bled in his last start st the Gold Cup meet."
Connagh's Quay, 5, has run five times over hurdles after running on the flat as a 2- and 3-year-old and broke his maiden at Colonial Downs last August.
"He'll run in the ratings handicap at Camden," said Valentine. "We're hoping maybe this will be his year."
A total of 82 horses ran in 10 races at Warrenton, with the Maiden Hurdle divided into three divisions and the Open Flat divided into two divisions.
"There's an incredible inventory of horses that are out there," said Valentine. "Warrenton always has a lot of entries, but not like yesterday. It was a long day."
Brion saddled CFC Stables, Paul & Molly Willis, Chris Laberge & Upland Flats Racing's Imonlysaying (Ire), ridden by Parker Hendriks, to win the first division of the Maiden Hurdle by 1 1/4 length over Mystical Man, trained by Fisher.
Doug Fout saddled Rolling Tide LLC's Rewind (GB), ridden by Bargary, to win the second division by 1/2 length over Keys Discount, trained by Sam Cockburn and ridden by Barry Foley,
Fisher saddled Riverdee Stable's Fits the Jill, ridden by Bargary, to win the third division by 7 1/4 lengths over Be Yourself, trained by Neil Morris and ridden by Gerard Galligan.
Both the first and third divisions were run in 4:00 4 /5 while the second finished in 4:08 4/5.
The Open Timber, with only four entries, was the only light race of the meet and was won by Sally E.Hamlin's Sky Hy Star, trained by Carl Rafter, by 3/4 lengths over Hard Strike, trained by Todd McKenna and ridden by Galligan,
Mark Beecher saddled Happenstance & Achsah O'Donovan's Hero's Return, ridden by Brett Owings, to win the Novice Timber by 4 1/4 lengths over Nathanielhawthorner, trained by Fout and ridden by Foley.
Davies saddled his own Brave Deacon, ridden by son Teddy, to win the Amateur and Novice Rider Timber by a head over Fashion Line, trained by Kathy Nielson and ridden by Colin Smith.
Young saddled first and second in the first division of the Open Flat, with Michael Smith's The Hero Next Door (Ire) winning by 2 1/4 lengths over Mrs. S.K. Johnston & Sharon Sheppard's Caramelize, ridden by David England.
Arch Kingsley saddled Hurricana Farm & Potter Group USA's Merry Maker (Ire), ridden by daughter Taylor, to win the second division by a nose over Uco Valley, trained by Young and ridden by Freddie Procter.
Paddy's Crown, owned by Adlestrop Hill, trained by Emily Hannum and ridden by Chloe Hannum, won the Novice Rider Flat by a head over Bee Major, trained by Young.
Boucher rode Virginia Equine's Dulini, trained by Susan Cooney, to win the Virginia Bred Flat race by 1 length over Bourbon Division, trained by Kingsley and ridden by Graham Watters.
The Side Saddle Flat race was won by Devon Zebrovious on Night League, trained by George Kuk, over Lauren Apple on My Silver Belle.
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