New owner, Old story for timber winner: Report from Saturday's Orange County Hunt Point-to-Point
Submitted by: Betsy Burke Parker
Phone: 540-364-2929
Email Address: betsyp(at)crosslink.net
Date Added: 4/2/2009
Erin Go Bragh wins on Bryant's 'home' course at Orange County
By Betsy Burke Parker
The Hoof Beat
MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA. March 29, 2009 Catching an unusual piece of fallout from the recent real estate crash, steeplechase owner Magalen Bryant has come out of the gate running with the new horses in her stable. Timber veteran Erin Go Bragh, newly racing in Bryant's distinctive blue-on-blue silks, won the featured open timber at Saturday's Orange County Hunt Point-to-Point.
Not only was Bryant the winning owner in the headline contest: too, as owner of Locust Hill Farm she was also the day's hostess. As well, the handsome Ohrstrom memorial trophy she won is given annually in honor of her late father George Ohrstrom Sr.
Jockey Paddy Young rated the New Zealand import off the early pace set by NJ Devil (Darren Nagle up.) He exploded to the lead in the final quarter mile of the three-mile race, winning as he pleased and setting up a promising 2009 season.
"I love that horse," said Fout, who trains out of his family's Coosaw Stable in The Plains. "He's class all the way."
Fout said that Erin Go Bragh finished second in this race last spring, using the point-to-point prep as a stepping stone to a victory over My Lady's Manor's big timber in Maryland last April (though, ultimately, he was placed second for interference.) In the gelding's next start, though the Virginia Gold Cup in May, Erin Go Bragh finished an uncharacteristically dull sixth. Fout was concerned.
"We got all the work-ups" from a local vet hospital, he said. A full blood chemistry revealed that the bay had a little-known thyroid condition that affected his stamina. A simple supplement put him back on track to good health.
"I think we've got him 'right', finally," Fout said.
Erin Go Bragh formerly raced for South Carolina owner Edgar Cato's Brigadoon Stable. Cato, a real estate developer and founder of the Cato's retail chain, had dozens of racehorses in training at the end of the year, but the recent stock market correction and real estate crash forced him to disburse much of his stock. Fout said Bryant was recipient of a very lucky deal � rare is the steeplechase owner that will sell a "made" timber horse in training such as Erin Go Bragh. But Bryant now finds herself in the enviable position of having a live propect for the spring's big timber stakes. Fout said Erin Go Bragh's future engagements could include the April 18 Middleburg Hunt Cup and the May 2 Virginia Gold Cup.
Bryant, whose family has been behind many of the innovations of the Middleburg area, including the Chronicle of the Horse magazine, the National Sporting Library and, more recently, the Dulles Greenway, also has a 'chasing stable in France. Fout said that to train horses for her is extra special since Bryant was one of his mother's � the late Eve Fout � best friends up until Eve Fout's death last year.
A triple winner on Saturday, Bryant also won the novice timber with homebred G'Day G'Day, and the maiden hurdle with Dealer Beware. Irish professional Young, who formerly had a contract as chief rider for Cato's Brigadoon, rode all three.
In the restricted maiden hurdle, trainer Pete Aylor saddled winner Harry's Crown (Carl Rafter up.)
Novice turf winner Wolfe Tone (Ben Garner up) inherited the lead late when a frontrunner veered off course.
Gray Church Ghost (owner Jake Dunning up) won a bitter stretch duel with amateur hurdle series leader Baron Von Ruckus (Ben Swope).
In the open hurdle, Millwood conditioner Jimmy Day sent out Bruce Smart's Maryland-bred Bullet Dancer (Liam McVicar up) to win in the day's fastest time for the two miles 4:08 2/5.
Results
Junior field masters turf. Large ponies. 1. Finesse, o/r Harry Ware.
Horses. 1. Untamed Hero, o/r Scarlett Lovett;
Junior field masters chase. Large ponies. 1. Minuet, o/r Madeleine Lohr; 2. Ridgetop Moya, o/r Isabella Eyles; 3. Circe, o/r Teresa Croce.
Horses. 1. Orpington, o/r Mary Motion; 2. Turnadieu, o/r Grant Chungo; 3. Izzy Cluz's Kid, o/r Scarlett Lovett.
Senior field masters chase. 1. Rhythm, o/r Wendi Wilson; 2. Gumby, o/r Jane Ware Bishop; 3. Main Street, o/r Catherine Arensman.
Novice rider turf. 2 miles. Time: 4:11. 1. Wolfe Tone, o/Irv Naylor, r/Ben Garner; 2. Humdinger, o/Kinross Farm, r/Jacob Roberts; 3. Atrium, o/Whitewood Stable, r/Kieren Crowley.
Novice timber. 3 miles. Time: 7:07 2/5. 1. G'day G'day, o/Maggie Bryant, r/Paddy Young; 2. Hey Doctor, o/Kinross Farm, r/Chris Read; 3. Blue Ash, o/Whitewood Stable, r/Carl Rafter.
Charles Whitehouse memorial maiden hurdle. 2 miles. Time: 4:13. 1. Dealer Beware, o/Maggie Bryant, r/Paddy Young; 2. Ole Boy, o/Kinross Farm, r/Carl Rafter; 3. Steve Bo, o/Sid and Karen Trimmer, r/Jacob Roberts.
Restricted maiden hurdle. 2 miles. Time: 4:03 2/5. 1. Harry's Crown, o/J.L and D.J. Aylor, r/Carl Rafter; 2. Blue Rider, o/Whitewood Stable, r/Jeff Murphy; 3. Diamond Fever, o/Randleston Farm, r/Liam McVicar.
Rufus Humphrey memorial. Amateur hurdle. 2 miles. Time: 4:27 2/5. 1. Church Ghost, o/r Jake Dunning; 2. Baron Von Ruckus, o/r Ben Swope; 3. Just A Prince, o/Indian Run Farm, r/Diana Gillam.
Open hurdle. 2 miles. 1. Bullet Dancer, o/Bruce Smart Jr., r/Liam McVicar; 2. Four Schools, o/Jacqui Ohrstrom, r/Jeff Murphy.
George Ohrstrom memorial open timber. 3 miles. Time: 7:11 1/5. 1. Erin Go Bragh, o/Maggie Bryant, r/Paddy Young; 2. NJ Devil, o/Irv Naylor, r/Darren Nagle; 3. Straight Gin, o/Whitewood Stable, r/Chip Miller.
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