AIKEN, S.C.--Ricky Hendriks saddled Del Rio Racing's Little Trilby (GB) to score a runaway victory in the $50,000, 2 1/8 mile Four-Year-Old Hurdle Stakes on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Aiken Fall Steeplechase.
Little Trilby, ridden by Gerard Galligan (Photo by Tod Marks)
Little Trlby, ridden by Gerard Galligan, went right to the front from the start and led by 20 to 30 lengths throughout, winning by 21 lengths over Sultan Pierji (Fr), trained by Tom Garner, and St. John's, trained by Jack Fisher, and finishing 3:51 4/5, the fastest race of the day.
"We bought him from Gordon Elliot," said Hendriks. "I got him in July and sent him straight to Saratoga where he had a bad fence that took him out of contention. We gave him a bit of a rest then and ran him again at Far Hills. The ground was probably too firm for him there."
"We changed tactics for Aiken and put blinkers on him," said Hendriks. "It didn't look like there was any pace in the race, so I said to Gerard, `If there's no pace, go ahead and make it.' He ran a big race."
"We'll give him a rest now and run him back in the spring in novice races."said Hendriks. "He's a nice, kind horse. I'm delighted for the Del Rio group."
AIKEN WAS the final meet of the year, and it decided a number of titles, including Leading Trainer, Races Won.
Fisher and Leslie Young were tied going into the Aiken meet, and with each winning one race at Aiken, they remained tied for the year.
The full story on year-end awards will be posted this week.
Fisher saddled Mrs.S.K. Johnston's Smart Uncle, ridden by Galligan, to win the $35,000, 2 3/8 mile Allowance Hurdle by 1/2 length over Walk the Warrior (Ire), trained by Young, and Blue Creek, trained by Keri Brion.
Smart Uncle closed with a strong run through the stretch for the win, finishing in 4:21 4/5.
There were three $30,000 races, two of which were the split Maiden Hurdle.
Mark Beecher saddled Daniel R. Baker's Decisive Triumph, ridden by Dan Nevin, to win the $30,000 Ratings Handicap by 1/2 length over Cainudothetwist, trained by Arch Kingsley, and Eye of Gunfighter, trained by Lawrence Smith, in 3:54 4/5.
China Beach and King of the Kids took the two divisions of the $30,000 Maiden Hurdle.
St Rita's China Beach, trained by Kate Dalton and ridden by Bernie Dalton, won the first division by 3 1/2 lengths over Laker Mamba, trained by Neil Morris, and Harrenhal (Ire), trained by Hendriks, finishing in 3:53 4/5.
James B. Steele's King of the Kids, trained by Cyril Murphy and ridden by Harry Beswick, won the second division by 1 3/4 lengths over Moonshine Time (Ire), trained by Brion, and The Wizards Well (Ire), trained by Young, finishing in 3:52 4/5.
Liam Bourke saddled Sawbuck Racing's Bellarmine Hall, ridden by Paddy O'Hanlon, to win the $25,000, 2 3/8 mile Rating Handicap Hurdle by a neck over Minella Plus (Ire), trained by Garner, and Blue Nile, trained by Richard Valentine, finishing in 4:20 1/5.
Young saddled Go Poke the Bear Syndicate's Cant Catch Camacho (Ire), ridden by Jamie Bargary, to win the $30,000 Maiden Claiming Hurdle by 1 1/2 lengths over Tolaga Bay, trained by Kingsley, and Equate, trained by Brion.
