SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Two trainers that learned their trade working for Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, Keri Brion and Graham Motion, scored multiple wins over the past few weeks.

Neuschwanstein winning at Saratoga
Brion, who started her career galloping horses for Sheppard, rode steeplechase races for him and then worked as his assistant trainer, began mainly as a steeplechase trainer, but she soon branched out into flat racing, as she always said that was where the money was.

On Wednesday, Aug. 7, Brion saddled Layton Register's homebred Neuschwanstein to win a $45,000 Claiming race at Saratoga by 2 lengths, but he was then claimed by Wayne Potts for $25,000.

 "Yesterday we got our second winner of the Saratoga meet when Neuschwanstein won the seventh race nicely for us under Irad Ortiz,"said Brion. "It was great to have his owner/breeder, Layton Registar, at the races to be there for his first Saratoga winner"

 

"GOOD TO note that this was a dirt sprint, which shows the versatility of the team to get horses ready to run 2 miles over jumps on the turf but also have them ready to fire 6 furlongs on the dirt," Brion said. "A huge thanks to my whole team who are working so hard to make this summer happen."

Neuschwanstein won by 2 lengths after running outside of a pair of horses, angling five wide into the stretch and edging clear for the win.

Brion's first Saratoga win on the flat this year was with Damchu Stables' homebred Mizetonic, who won a $50,000, 1 1/16 mil Waiver Maiden Claiming race on the turf by a nose on July 25.

Brion also saddled Charles Blanford's homebred Momma's Lino to win a $45,000,1 1/16 mile Claiming race on the turf by 1 1/2 lengths a t Laurel on July 19.

MOTION had two winners on July 21, including a $100,000 Stakes race at Laurel.

Augustin Stable and Catherine Parke's Sparkle Blue won the $100,000, 1 1/8 mile Big Dreyfus Stakes for fillies and mare 3 and up on the turf by 1/2 length.

Sparkle Blue repeated her win of last year in the Dreyfus Stakes for her fifth overall stakes win.

Also on July 221, Motion trained Sun Kissed Soiree to win a $100,000, 1 1/2 mile Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-old fillies by 1 3/4 lengths at Saratoga.

Motion saddled Harrell Ventures' Roundtop to win a $40,000, 1 1/8 mile Maiden Special Weight on the turf by 1 length at Delaware Park.

He had two more winners on July 27.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Yalta won a $49,300, 1 1/16 Allowance race on the turf by 1 length at Laurel.

Motion also saddled Hillwood Stable's Summer Whirl to win a $90,000, 1 mile Maiden Special Weight for fillies and mares 2 and up by a neck at Saratoga.

LIZ MERRYMAN had four winners in the second half of July.

She saddled her own Chalice to win a $31,000, 5 furlong Maiden Special Weight for fillies and mares by 2 1/4 lengths at Penn National on July 17.

Hasting Farm's Jean Valjean won a $56,600, 5 1/2 furlongs Allowance Optional Claiming race on the turf by 1 1/4 lengths at Laurel on July 19.

Merryman saddled her own Spencer Tiara to win a $40,000, 6 furlong Maiden Special Weight for fillies and mares 3 and up by 2 1/2 lengths at Delaware Park on July 27/

On July 31, she saddled Greyledge Thoroughbreds' Princess Javoncia to win an  $8,800, 1 mile and 70 yards Allowance Optional Claiming race for fillies and mares by 1 length at Delaware Park.

BERNIE HOUGHTON had two winners at Penn National, with Harry Hoglander's Md-bred Our Ethan Charles winning a $21,000, 6 furlong Maiden Claiming race by 3 1/4 lengths on Aug.1, and Douglas Gbson's African Angel winning a $22,000, 1 mile Starter Optional Claiming race by 7 1/2 lengths on Aug. 8.

KATHY NEILSON saddled Massie Land and Cattle's Go Take Charge to win a $26,900, 1 mile Claiming race by 3/4 length at Laurel Park on July 27.

JACK FISHER saddled Bruton Street-US' St. John's to win a $49,900, 1 1/16 mile Allowance race on the turf by 2 1/4 lengths at Laurel on July 28.