Seven Virginia-breds got to the winners circle last week including three steeplechase horses, a 34-1 upset bomb, and an eight length winner at Churchill Downs that got claimed out of the race.
Dream Voyage, Monstaleur and Class Cherokee all won jump events in varying fashion. The first pair scored impressive romps at Charleston and the Pine Mountain Callaway Garden respectively while the latter connected in a stalking come from behind trip at Montpelier to win by a close half length margin.
A day after collecting four riding wins at Montpelier, Darren Nagle guided Dream Voyage to a 10 1/4 length wire-to-wire triumph Sunday in a $15,000 maiden claimer at 2 1/4 miles. The 4 year old Mizzen Mast gelding was best in a five horse field and crossed in 5:02.00 for trainer Michael Berryman. Bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone, Dream Voyage is out of the Theatrical mare, Stage Dream.
Monstaleur competed at the 3 1/8 miles distance against seven others, was second at the two mile mark, took control of the field by five heading into the stretch and crossed nine lengths over the closest foe. Forrest Kelly directed the 8 year old Meadow Monster gelding in the $15,000 maiden special weight marathon. Bred by Dr. James Bryant and Linda Davis, Monstaleur finished in 6:54.60 for trainer Blythe Davies. He is out of the Stalwars mare, Taleur.
Class Cherokee (R), winner of the maiden hurdle. Photo courtesy Douglas Lees.
Class Cherokee was solid at Montpelier again, making it back to back years in Orange, Virginia that the 5 year old has scored November victories at the estate of James Madison. This was the first of Nagle’s four wins, and he chose a stalking type journey after breaking well in the large ten horse field. Class Cherokee came outside from fifth in the second circuit and steadily advanced to edge Powerofone by one half length at the wire. The Richard Valentine trainee was bred by the Mede Cahaba Stable and is a Cherokee Boy’s gelding out Class Excells, by Class Secret. The victor finished the 2 3/8th miles route in 4:44.60.
It’s not often a horse goes off at 34-1 in a six horse field and prevails, but that’s exactly what True Cost did at Penn National last Thursday in a $20,900 six furlong race for ladies. Bred by Anne Tucker, the 5 year old Aisle mare led by 3 1/2 at the top of the stretch, but had to fend off a fast closing trio at the wire She crossed a neck better than Wild For Love in 1:11.28, and less than a length separated the top four. Out of the Is It True mare, Truly Extravagant, True Cost paid $70.80 for a $2 win bet.
True Cost, bred by Anne Tucker, won November 5th at Penn National after being sent off at 34-1
Unassailable faced the biggest field of this week’s Commonwealth-bred winners and dominated by eight lengths courtesy of a big four wide move in the final turn. The $24,000, 1 1/16 miles test came at Churchill and featured a dozen maiden claiming competitors. The 3 year old Warrior’s Reward gelding made his move before the three-quarters mark and powered by the frontrunners early in the stretch to win going away. Bred by Carolyn Nicewonder Beverly, Unassailable was one of three horses claimed from the race. Out of the Private Account mare, Gone Private, he was claimed for $30,000 by the Midwest Thoroughbreds.
Joe Tess captured a 5 furlong claiming race at Penn National November 5th. The 5 year old Macho Uno gelding was bred by Edward Evans.
Money Tree and Joe Tess, a pair of 5 year old geldings, each won respective six furlong sprints this past week at Turf Paradise and Penn National. The former, by Lawyer Ron out of So Generous by Fly So Free, scored a dominant 7 1/2 length triumph in 1:10.14. Bred by the Morgan’s Ford Farm and trained by Carl O’Callaghan, Money Tree earned the winner’s share of a $8,300 purse courtesy of a five wide move in the turn. The latter, by Macho Uno out of the Gold Fever mare, Forty Moves, went gate-to-wire in his $19,000 race. Bred by Edward Evans, Joe Tess won by three lengths in.1:10.45.
Penn National photos are courtesy of B & D Photography.