Aiken recap
©Tod Marks
Blue Creek takes featured Imperial Cup; caps two-win day for Brion, Mulqueen
On a picture-perfect Saturday afternoon, a record crowd turned out for the National Steeplechase Association season kickoff in Aiken, S.C. a six race, $140,000 card highlighted by the $40,000 Imperial Cup, a handicap for horses rated at 120 or less.
It was a day of close finishes as the winning margins ranged from a nose to 2 3/4 lengths.
With upwards of 35,000 spectators in attendance, trainer Keri Brion and jockey Stephen Mulqueen partnered for a pair of victories, with Blue Creek scoring in the feature and first-time starter Porte Jaune taking the $25,000 filly and mare maiden hurdle. Here’s a summary of the action:
Quick Cat makes winning debut
Hunt Lane Racing’s Quick Cat and jockey Gerard Galligan began the day — and the season — with a determined win over five foes in a 1 1/4-mile training flat prep contest on the turf. Trainer Ricky Hendriks had the four-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Kitten’s Joy primed in his first career start.
Bee Well breaks maiden in second NSA appearance
Richard Colton’s Bee Well, who made his steeplechase debut at Montpelier last fall, made his second start a winning one, breaking swiftly, then settling in third before regaining the lead on the final turn and drawing clear by 2 1/4 lengths over Keystone Thoroughbreds’ hard charging Box Office Warrior. Freddie Procter rode the winner; Galligan piloted the runner up.
The $20,000 race, written for horses entered for a tag of $20,000 or those who had previously started for a claiming price of $20,000 or less, drew a competitive field of nine. Jordan Wycoff’s Equate also put in a solid effort, finishing another half length back in third.
The winner, a four-year-old Kentucky-bred son of turf standout English Channel, was bred by Calumet Farm. Prior to joining the NSA, Bee Well made 15 starts on the flat in the maiden ranks, earning his first win in his final outing in September at Colonial Downs for trainer Arch Kingsley.
Lowcountry comes from behind in 110 Handicap
Heading over the final fence, it looked as if Why Not Racing’s Lowcountry would wind up no closer than third as James Stainbrook and Vincent Bonanni’s Dante’s Fire (Graham Watters) and Hickory Made Stables and Celtic Venture Stable’s Eye of Gunfighter (Harry Beswick) separated themselves from the pack and dueled for the top prize.
But the seven-year-old Godolphin-bred gray son of Frosted, who had been running easily at the back of the field, inched up to fourth on the final turn, cut to the inside past the last hurdle, and unfurled a late run to get up for a 3/4-length tally. Dante’s Fire was second; Eye of Gunfighter third.
The win was a family affair for the Boucher clan, with Mell Boucher in the saddle for trainer-mom Lilith, and dad, Richard, who led horse and rider to the paddock. Another off-the-flat NSA runner, Lowcountry’s victory raised his career earnings to nearly $100,000.
Porte Jaune turns heads in filly & mare maiden
With runners like Rampoldi Plan, Tomgarrow, and Court Ruler, owner Leipers Fork Steeplechase has become a force on the NSA circuit. The Tennessee-based owners — in partnership with Madaket Stables, a big-time player on the flat racing scene, and Layton Register — the ownership group looks like it has added another powerful punch to its roster.
French-bred Porte Jaune, a five-year-old daughter of German-breds Dschingis Secret and Bella Giaconda, got the job done easily for Brion and Mulqueen in the $25,000 filly & mare maiden hurdle.
Making her first career start, the Virginia-Certified (which means she was born outside the Commonwealth but meets applicable residency requirements), mare moved up from fourth to second at around the 1 1/2-mile mark, gained the lead two fences from home, and drew clear by 2 3/4 lengths through the lane.
Joseph Fowler’s Mosey, ridden by Bernie Dalton for trainer-wife, Kate, was second best, 7 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher, Wendy Hendriks’ Articuno (Gerard Galligan).
Biggerthanbigtime runs big in open maiden hurdle
Making his second U.S. start following a 15-race career in his homeland in Ireland, Green Valley Construction and John Moylan’s Biggerthanbigtime took the lead at the start, fought back after being headed late, and held on to defeat Hurricana Farm’s Bonnebosq by a nose in a $30,000 maiden special weights event. Bonnebosq (Freddie Procter) was also making his NSA debut following a career in Ireland. Over Creek Stables’ Holiday Charm was 17 lengths behind in third.
Ridden by NSA newcomer James O’Sullivan for jockey-turned-trainer Barry Foley, Biggerthanbigtime was coming off of a fifth-place finish in the Harry Harris four-year-old stakes at Far Hills in October.
Blue Creek sparkles in Imperial Cup
Since coming off of the flat last fall, Upland Flats Racing’s Blue Creek hasn’t missed a check. After breaking his maiden at Shawan Downs in September, the four-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Demarchelier finished second and third in allowance company before taking the $40,000 handicap on Saturday.
Settling in third at the start, Blue Creek and Mulqueen circled horses on the final turn and prevailed following a spirited stretch duel with Greg Hawkins’ pacesetter Kiyomori (Graham Watters) to win by a half length. Hard Game’s L’Avvocato (Evan Dwan) was third in the field of five.
Prior to joining the NSA, the Kentucky-bred boasted a pair of thirds in stakes company as a two-year-old on the turf, in the listed Awad at the 2023 Belmont at Aqueduct meet, and the black type Laurel Futurity.