AIKEN, S.C.--Ricky Hendriks saddled two winners, one in the first race on steeplechasing's spring calendar, and one in the featured $35,000 Hurdle Stakes at the Aiken Spring Steeplechase on Saturday, March 23.
West Newton leads Caramelised over a jump early in the race (Photo by Tod Marks)
Upland Flats Racing's West Newton, ridden by Harry Beswick, won the $35,000 Imperial Cup, Sport of Kings Hurdle Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths, but he did it in a heart stopping, dramatic fashion.
"West Newton is a front runner, and when I was talking to Harry before the race, he said, `That's the way he likes to run, so why change it,'" said Hendriks.
So West Newton did go to the front and led throughout most of the race.
"Then on the backside the last time around he got passed," said Hendriks. "I said,`Oh my God, oh no. Oh well, at least he'll be second. They jumped the last fence, and he just took off. The amount of heart that horse has is incredible. He always gives 100 percent. And he was carrying top weight. Incredible."
The Insider had passed West Newton on the backside and led over the last fence, but West Newton rallied and inched back into the lead to win over Caramelised, trained by Leslie Young, with Hendriks' second entry, Scarlet Pimpernel, placing third.
West Newton was giving six pounds to Caramelised and 12 pounds to Scarlet Pimpernel and finished the 2 1/8 mile race in 3:45 3/5, the fastest time of the day by over three seconds.
"Today, I'm like, did that really happen," said Hendriks.
"WE HAVEN'T got a plan yet on where he'll go next," said Hendriks. "Maybe the stake at the Virginia Gold Cup.
In the first race on the Aiken card, Upland Flats Racing's Hidden Path, ridden by Beswick and trained by Hendriks, won by 1/2 length over Memento, trained by Arch Kingsley.
"He looks likehe's enjoying what he's doing," said Hendriks. "Maybe he'll run at Camden over fences."
In other races, Kingsley saddled Hurricana Farm's Chef d'Etat (Ire) to win the $30,000 Maiden Hurdle by 10 lengths in 3:51 4/5 over Quid, trained by Julie Gomena.
Kate Dalton saddled Layton L Register's Haint Blue (Fr), ridden by Bernie Dalton, to win the $30,000 Filly and Mare Maiden Hurdle by 8 1/4 lengths in 3:55 2/5 over Exculpate, trained by Kingsley.
Keri Brion saddled Jordan V. Wycoff's Clara Belle to win the $25,000 Ratings Handicap Hurdle (110 or lower) by 5 1/4 lengths in 3:49 over Prophet's Voice, trained by Hendriks.
Leslie Young saddled Thomas S. Rice's Secret Soulmate to win the $20,000 Optional Maiden Starter/Maiden Claiming Hurdle by 4 3//4 lengths in 3:48 2/5 over Greylover, trained by Mark Beecher,.
