NEW KENT, Va.--Kathy Neilson saddled Westerland to win the featured $50,000, 2 14 mile Maiden Special Weight Hurdle at Colonial Downs on Thursday, Aug, 1.

Westerland (Photos by Maddy Becker, Lead Photographer Colonial Downs)Westerland, owned by Irv Naylor, trained by Kathy Neilson and ridden by Gerard Galligan, ran in the middle of a tightly packed group of 10 starters, began to make his move on the final backstretch, rallied between horses, got through a small hole in the stretch and went on to win by 5 3/4 lengths over Gettleman, trained by Jack Fisher, and Moonshine Time, trained by Keri Brion.

"He's such a nice horse," said Neilson. "I've had him four years, but he has really bad feet, and I had a hard time keeping shoes on him. I talked to Skylar (Neilson's daughter) about it, and we trained him without shoes. He ran without shoes this spring and ran really well. But Colonial won't let horses run without shoes, so we got glue-on shoes."

"I'm glad he got it done, and for a big, fat $50,000," she said. "The Naylors have been really patient. Westy loves Colonial. He loves the good, cushiony turf, so I'd like to keep him there."

 

BRION SADDLED Molly and Paul Willis' Carloun, ridden by Steve Mulqueen, to win the $30,000 Maiden Special Weight for horses that have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less.

Carloun led by big margins throughout and won by 7 1/2 lengths over Rutherian, trained by Neilson,, and Vana Bright, trained by Lilith Boucher.

"Rutherian is a cute little horse that Skylar picked out for me," said Neilson. "My nephew Parker Hendriks rode him and did an awesome job."

Evie's Prince, owned by Shannon Hill Farm, trained by Neil Morris and ridden by Graham Watters, won the $30,000 Ratings Handicap by 18 1/4 lengths over Auction Kingdom, also trained by Morris, and Bourbon Diversion, trained by Arch Kingsley.

Evie's Prince ran fourth for much of the race, began to move before the last fence, swept past the leader in the stretch and went on to win easily.