Four Virginia-bred horses reached the winners circle recently and another trio will be vying in stakes races around the country on March 7.
A pair bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm won races in late February at Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans. Chess Chief, a 4-year-old Into Mischief colt, was best by 4 3/4 lengths in a $46,000 allowance optional claimer. The Dallas Stewart trainee covered the 1 1/16ths miles distance in 1:43.57. With a $314,830 bankroll from 15 starts, Chess Chief won for just the second time but has a resume that includes top three finishes in the Oklahoma and West Virginia Derby, a fourth in the Indiana Derby and a fifth in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. He is out of the Mineshaft mare, Un Blessed.
Chess Chief wins a $46,000 allowance at Fair Grounds. Picture courtesy of Hodges Photography.
Bear Trappe’s win was a bit tighter than Chess Chief’s. The 4-year-old Trappe Shot gelding edged Two Mikes N Doc G by a nose in a 1 mile, 70 yard claiming event. Ridden by Robby Albarado, the winner crossed in 1:49.94. Bear Trappe, out of Fluxx by Bluegrass Cat, has bankrolled $85,165 to date and his four wins have each come at a different track — Churchill Downs, Ellis Park, Charles Town and most recently at Fair Grounds.
Bear Trappe (inside) edges Two Mikes N Doc G at Fair Grounds. Picture courtesy of Hodges Photography.
Great Quest, bred by Quest Realty, broke his maiden recently at Charles Town. The 3-year-old Flatter gelding won handily in a $17,000, 7 furlong test. The Susan Cooney trainee finished four lengths the best in 1:31.26. Out of the Dehere mare, Stay Here, Great Quest has earned $19,630 in six starts and recorded a runner-up finish January 25 in addition to the recent win.
Susan Cooney trained Great Quest breaks his maiden at Charles Town. Picture courtesy of Coady Photography.
Bevolution closed February out with a gate-to-wire win at Turf Paradise. The 5-year-old Pioneerof the Nile gelding won by three in a $7,000 claiming race at the 6 1/2 furlong distance. Bred by Jim Fitzgerald & Katie Fitzgerald, Bevolution crossed in 1:17.44 and earned his 9th “in the money” finish. He is out of Aronia by Mutakddim.
Sheldon Russell directs Elusive Mischief to victory in the Meadow Stable Stakes. Photo by Coady Photography.
Looking ahead, a trio of Virginia-breds will be competing in stakes Saturday (March 7). Attachment Rate, fresh off a maiden special weight score at Gulfstream, is in Aqueduct’s $300,000 Gotham Stakes, a key Derby prep. The Dale Romans trainee was bred by Mr. & Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin. 2019 Punch Line Stakes winner Boldor will battle in the $150,000 Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn. The Steve Asmussen trainee was bred by Carlos Moore and Jill Gordon-Moore. And, 2019 Meadow Stable Stakes winner Elusive Mischief is in the $75,000 Silks Run Stakes at Gulfstream. The Ian Wilkes trainee was bred by the Fitzgeralds.