Race Recap

©Tod Marks St. Rita Racing’s China Beach went from relative unknown to formidable foe with a dominant performance in the 90th running of the $75,000 Carolina Cup novice stakes at Springdale Race Course in Camden, S.C., on Saturday. Making his first stakes start – and only fourth career try over jumps following a long career…

©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…

Westerland winning at Callaway © Tod Marks Plenty of major moments after last Saturday’s 14-race doubleheader, including Graham Watters’ 100th NSA victory, and three-win days for both Jamie Bargary and Gerard Galligan. Trainer Leslie Young, too, was prolific, and her combined four wins at both venues put her in a tie at 27 with Jack…

Gerard Galligan and Todd McKenna © Tod Marks On a picture-perfect autumn afternoon, the National Steeplechase Association returned to Glenwood Park in Middleburg on Sunday, just two weeks after the Virginia Fall Races, the traditional October fixture at the site. The running of back-to-back meets at the same venue is highly unusual, and came about…

Snap Decision © Tod Marks After six seasons of scintillating performances that included 15 victories (13 stakes) facing top-flight competition, Bruton Street-US’ Snap Decision finally landed the biggest prize that had eluded him, the $250,000 American Grand National at Far Hills. With the hard-fought victory on Saturday — his first in four tries in the…

Flat stakes winner L’Imperator earns first G1 for Hudson River Farms, Kingsley, and visiting jockey Jordan Gainford After finishing a solid third this spring to stars Rampoldi Plan in the G1 Commonwealth Cup and Abaan in the Carolina Cup novice stakes, Hudson River Farms’ L’Imperator broke through with his first NSA stakes score — and first ever career…