A Virginia-owned filly captured a stakes north of the border and five Virginia-breds got to the winners circle on a successful Belmont Stakes weekend for horses/connections with Commonwealth ties. Six different tracks were represented courtesy of those successes.
Queen Del Valle, trained by Reid Nagle and owned by his Big Lick Farm in Charlottesville, was best in the $105,000 Alywow Stakes June 11th at Woodbine. The 3 year old Kentucky-bred filly remained perfect in four starts from her 2017 campaign. She scored in another stakes — the Mrs. Presidentress at Gulfstream February 20th — and in a pair of starter optional claimers at Tampa and Gulfstream. She is by Baryshnikov out of Ladyecho by Alphabet Soup. Nagle’s charge is 9 of 11 lifetime, and has bankrolled $185,436.
Toronto Ont June 11, 2017 Woodbine Racetrack.Alywow Stakes, Queen Del Valle Jockey Edgar Zayas,owner Big Lick Farm and trainer Reid Nagle.WEG/michael burns photo
All Call, a 6 year old Cowboy Cal gelding, connected at Arlington June 10th in a starter optional claiming race. Bred by the Morgan’s Ford Farm, the victor was third of seven in the field turning for home and crossed a length in front. All Call covered the 1 1/16th miles race in 1:43.69. He has earned $163,074 from 29 career starts.
Compose is a 6 year old mare who saw her bankroll slide into six digits with a win at Fair Meadows the same day. Bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone, the winner thoroughly dominated the four horse contest, winning gate to wire by 11 1/2 lengths. Compose put a four race winning streak together last summer and fall, and has 11 “in the money” finishes in her last 12 starts. She has now earned $103, 591.
Surfing Up, a 7 year old Up Periscope gelding bred by Warren Owens, earned his first win of the year at Charles Town in convincing style. The winner was fifth at the third marker of his 1 1/18th miles claiming race, angled out at the top of the stretch and stormed home to win by 4 1/2 lengths in 1:56.30. Out of the Maria’s Mon mare, Cloud Surfer, Surfing Up gave owner Natasha Aylor a 25% bonus courtesy of the HBPA/VTA Mid-Atlantic bonus program.
Voices Only was the fourth Virginia-bred to win at Parx on Belmont Day, and the 4 year old filly edged a pair of Jonathan Sheppard trainees in breaking her maiden. Bred by the William Backer Revocable Trust, Voices Only wired the field and crossed a length over Forgiving and two lengths ahead of Patience. The Scott Lake trainee is by Artie Schiller out of Masked Ball by Lear Fan. Owner Richard Malouf collected a 25% bonus on top of the winners share of a $30,000 purse.
Scarlett’s Ransom wired the field in earning her second straight win June 10th at Laurel. photo by Jim McCue.
Scarlett’s Ransom added a fifth Virginia-bred win to the weekend festivities, bagging a 5 1/2 length triumph in a $22,000 claiming race at Laurel. The 3 year old daughter of Denis of Cork wired the field in 1:05.35 and has now won two straight. The filly also prevailed at Laurel in an April 8th claiming event. She is out of the Grand Slam mare, Moosette. Scarlett’s Ransom was bred by Nancy Rizer and Eric Rizer. She is owned by the latter Riser, who gained a 25% Mid Atlantic bonus from the victory.