Four-mile timber stakes lures quality group

Blair Wyatt lifted her arm over her head and smiled.

“It’s good. It really started feeling better a few days afterward. I’m ready,” she said – looking plenty prepared to ride a racehorse if not quite ready to throw a batting practice session.

Two-and-a-half weeks ago, Wyatt broke her collarbone in a fall while schooling a hurdle horse for her husband, trainer Todd Wyatt. Three days before that, she won the My Lady’s Manor timber stakes aboard Bon Caddo. Such is the life as a steeplechase jockey, even one who does it part-time. Wyatt juggles a family (she and Todd have two young children) with a reputation as a go-to amateur in key timber races.

Saturday, Wyatt and Bon Caddo take on six rivals in the $75,000 Virginia Gold Cup timber stakes at Great Meadow Race Course in The Plains, Va. The 4-mile test always presents timber drama and this year should be no different.

Merriefield Farm’s Bon Caddo passed on the Maryland Hunt Cup and rates as the horse to beat in the Gold Cup. The race’s 4 miles suit the 10-year-old son of Bon Point, who finished second in the 2010 edition – beaten just a half-length by Bubble Economy. Trainer Dawn Williams produced a fit horse for the Manor April 16 and Bon Caddo halted a seven-race losing streak (four seconds and a third).

"He'd be real tough in the Gold Cup," Wyatt said of the Hunt Cup/Gold Cup choice after the Manor.

EMO Stable’s He’s A Conniver won two timber stakes last fall, including Great Meadow’s International Gold Cup. Owner Ernie Oare has long wanted a spring Gold Cup victory and sends the 9-year-old into Saturday off a second to Delta Park at Middleburg. Normally a committed front-runner, He’s A Conniver sat just off the pace that day before building a big lead and getting caught in the stretch. Jockey Jody Petty will try to settle the 9-year-old Crafty Friend gelding and stretch his speed the added distance.

Delta Park ran down He’s A Conniver at Middleburg April 23 and will try to give Arcadia Stable and trainer Jack Fisher a second consecutive Gold Cup and their third in four years (Bubble Economy won in 2008 and 2010). The 7-year-old son of Johannesburg runs like 4 miles won’t be a problem and will try to work out a late-running trip under Xavier Aizpuru.

Rosbrian Farm’s More Fascination pushed Bon Caddo to a three-quarters of a length in the Manor, but makes just his third NSA timber start. Trainer Tara Elmore secured champion jockey Paddy Young for the ride aboard the 8-year-old son of Dynaformer. Others in the field are Radio Flyer, Uppercut and Yin Yang.

Post time for the first of six races at Great Meadow, which annually lures a crowd of 50,000, is 1:30 p.m. For more, see the Gold Cup Website.

•  •  •
Delaware’s Winterthur Museum hosts its annual day of racing Sunday with the Winterthur Steeplechase. The spring tradition features four races, three over timber and one on the flat. South Monarch tries to repeat in the $20,000 open timber for Morning Star Stable and trainer Sanna Hendriks. Jody Petty rides the 9-year-old, who was third behind Bon Caddo and More Fascination in the Manor. The six-horse field also includes front-running blazer Major Price and Camden winner Music To My Ears.

Post time at Winterthur is 2 p.m. See Winterthur Website for more.

•  •  •
Looking ahead a week, the spring’s most important day of jump racing comes May 14 with the Iroquois Steeplechase in Nashville, Tenn. The NSA took nominations this week and the program promises dazzling races.

The $150,000 Iroquois (Gr. I) at 3 miles attracted champion Slip Away and Grade I winners Tax Ruling, Pierrot Lunaire, Spy In The Sky and Percussionist among a group of 13. The others on the list: Canardly, Class Century, Decoy Daddy, Dictina’s Boy, Fealing Real, Nationbuilder, Northern Bay and Sonic Charm.

The $75,000 Marcellus Frost (Gr. II) at 2 miles included Aiken stakes winner Country Cousin, Gwathmey winner Decoy Daddy, Easy Red, former novice champion Left Unsaid, Grade I winner Sermon Of Love, Spy In The Sky and The Price Of Love.

The $50,000 Margaret Henley for fillies and mares lured stakes winners Farah T Saute, Green Velvet, Ptarmigan and Sweet Shani among a dozen nominations. The $50,000 Mason Houghland over timber brought out He’s  A Conniver, Meet At Eleven, Professor Maxwell and former hurdle stakes horse Triple Dip.

Entries will be taken Tuesday, May 10.

•  •  •
Standings Look
JOCKEYS: Paddy Young (eight wins, .36 win percentage) and Brian Crowley (seven, .37) appear poised to battle it out all year as they’ve put at least four wins between themselves and the rest of the colony.

TRAINERS: Tom Voss rocketed out to a quick start with six wins from 18 starters while Richard Valentine has made a winter in Aiken pay off with a quick 5-for-10 start. Jonathan Sheppard is third with four followed by the strong-starting Lilith Boucher and Alicia Muphry (three each).

OWNERS/HORSES: They’re always skewed this early in the year but Private Attack’s Grand National and Maryland Hunt Cup scores place him and his owner Sportsmans Hall at the top of their respective lists with $63,000.

*PHOTO: Bon Caddo (center) shows the way in the My Lady's Manor timber stakes (Douglas Lees).

Follow ST Publishing on Twitter.