BOSTON, Va.--Ricky Hendriks saddled three winners at Rappahanock Hunt Point-to-Point on Saturday, March 1, steeplechasing's first meet of the spring season.
Ricky HendriksAfter such a cold and icy winter, this first jumping meet of the year is a welcome sign of spring.
"It was a rough winter," said Hendriks of Unionville, Pa. "The team did a great job of keeping the horses going. If Greg Bentley hadn't allowed up to use his track we never could have gotten the horses fit."
"We had a very good day," said Hendriks of his three wins and two seconds..
Armata Stables' Chosen Mate trained by Hendriks and ridden by Virginia Korrell, won the 3 mile Open Timber by 10 lengths over Zy, trained by Larry Levy.
Pleasecallmeback, trained by Billy Meister, pulled up at the 18th fence.
"Chosen Mate is a lovely older horse," said Hendriks of the12 year old gelding.. "He's been coming along nicely."
Hendriks had both the first and second placed horses in the two open flat races.
In the 1 1/2 mile Open Flat, Little Triby (GB), ridden by Gerard Galligan, won by 3/4 length over Set Point, (Ire), both owned by Del Rio Racing.
"Little Trilby won his last race over hurdles last fall at Aiken, and he's heading to the Carolina Cap," said Hendriks.
IN THE 1 1/2 mile Maiden Flat. Hunt Lane Racing's Quick Cat, ridden by Galligan, won by a head over Del Rio Racing's Harrenhal (Ire), ridden by Stephen Mulqueen.
"That was a surprise," said Hendriks. "Quick Cat's been trouble ever since we got him. He's very difficult to train. Gerard has been riding him at home and has done a great job with him. I'm not sure where he'll go next."
Green Valley Construction's Biggerthanbigtime, trained by Barry Folwy and ridden by James Sullivan, won the $1,500, 2 mile Open Hurdle by 1/2 length over Eye of Gunfighter, trained by Lawrence Smith, with Dante's Fire, trained by Neil Morris, third.
John Corrigan's Lord Donegal, trained by Neil Morris and ridden by Graham Watters, won the $1,000, 2 mile Maiden Hurdle by a head over Hashtag No Wonder, trained by Morris, with Spin It, trained by Foley, third.
Vincent Bonanni's Bet the Pot, trained by Morris and ridden by Parker Hendriks, won the $1,000, 2 1/2 mile Maiden Timber by 3 lengths over Riptide Rock, trained by Morris, with Kenya Road, trained by Kate Dalton, third.
Kinross Farm's Racavan (Ire), trained by Richard Valentine and ridden by Mell Boucher, won the 2 1/2 mile Lady Rider Timber by 1 length over Aggretto, trained by Betty McCue.
Bonnie Rye Stable's Gun For Success, trained by Julie Gomena and ridden by Sam Cockburn, won the 3 mille Foxhunter Timber by 2 lengths over Master McGrath, trained by Will Driskill, with Big Eddie B, trained by McCue, third.
Pauly Aguilera rode both Sassy to win the Small Pony flat and Rose to win the Medium Pony Flat while Annie Hitt rode T-Rex to win the Large Pony flat.
