MONTPELIER STATION, Va.--Jack Fisher had the winners of both $75,000 Hurdle Stakes on Saturday, Nov. 4, the G2 Noel Laing Hurdle Handicap Stakes at Monpelier and the Novice Hurdle Stakes at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga.
Jack Fisher Wasdell Properties' Zabeel Champion (GB), ridden by Bernie Dalton, won the $75,000, 2 1/2 mile Noel Laing Hurdle Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths over Scorpion's Revenge, trained by Cyril Murphy at Montpelier.
"Zabeel Champion seems like a pretty nice horse," said Fisher, who has just had the horse since late summer when he was imported from Great Britain where he won two hurdle handicaps in 2022. "He won on soft going at Far Hills and now he's won on firm ground at Montpelier. I wasn't there, but I heard Bernie gave him a great ride."
That was the third race for Zabeel Champion in this country after finishing sixth in a handicap at Foxfield and then winning the Appleton Hurdle Stakes at Far Hills.
Riverdee Stable's Cool Jet (Ire), ridden by Graham Watters, won the $75,000, 2 3/8 mile Novice Hurdle Stakes at Callaway Gardens by 2 lengths over The Hero Next Door, trained by Leslie Young.
"Cool Jet (Ire) won at Nashville, and now he won here," said Fisher, who said he went to Callaway Gardens because he enjoyed staying with Jill Johnston there.
Cool Jet has run six times for Fisher since being imported in 2020 with three wins, two seconds and a fourth.
Fisher had a second winner at Montpelier with Riverdee Stable's Potus, who won the $25,000, 2 3/8mile Ratings Handicap Hurdle by 11 1/4 lengths over Withoutdestination, trained by Todd Wyatt.
"All three of them will be turned out now, turned out days and taken in at night, over the winter,"said Fisher.
SEAN McDERMOTT also had two winners at Montpelier, training and riding both.
Vivian E. Rall's Icandothat won the $20,000 Maiden Claiming Hurdle by 9 3/4 lengths over Absam, trained by Willy Dowling, and South Branch Equine's Casamo won the $30,000 Maiden Hurdle by 1 1/4 lengths over Samui Sunset, trained by Mark Beecher.
Leslie Young saddled Potter Group USA's Right Tempo (Fr), ridden by Jamie Bargary, to win the $50,000 Filly and Mare Hurdle Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths over Bercasa (Ire), trained by Kathy Neilson.
Joe Davies saddled Celtic Venture Stable's Factotem, ridden by son Teddy, to win the $20,000 Maiden Claiming Hurdle by a neck over Sleight of Hand, trained by Keri Brion.
At Callaway Gardens, Leslie Young had two winners.
Leipers Fork Steeplechasers' Court Ruler (Ire), ridden by Freddie Procter, won the $25,000, 3 1/2 mile Steeplethon by 6 1/4 leengths over Storm Team, trained by Fisher.
Young's second winner was Michael A. Smith's Foxy Walk (Ire), ridden by Procter, who won the $30,000 Maiden Hurdle by 17 3/4 lengths over Macheeda (Ire), trained by Neilson.
Animal Kingston, owned by William M. Russell, trained by Neil Morris and ridden by Ricky Doyle, won the $35,000 Ratings Handicap Hurdle by a neck over For the Parish (Ire), trained by Young.
Keri Brion saddled Paul A. Willis' Agitare (Ire), to win the $20,000 Maiden Claiming Hurdle by 5 1/2 lengths over I Am Fortunata (re), trained by Ricky Hendriks.
