Cool Jet upsets Snap Decision and proves much the best in $75,000 Tejada Memorial

©Douglas Lees

As was the case in last year’s Grade 3 Mariann De Tejada Memorial stakes, Hall of Fame trainer Jack Fisher saddled multiple runners, and like 2024 it wasn’t Fisher’s big horse – Snap Decision – who took home the top prize at the Charlottesville, Va., course, but a supporting player.

With veteran reinsman Bernie Dalton, who is having a spectacular season, in the irons, Riverdee Stable’s Cool Jet broke alertly, sitting in second behind Michael Smith’s Foxy Walk (Jamie Bargary). The field remained bunched up early with Upland Flats Racing’s Moonshine Time (Stephen Mulqueen), and Bruton Street-US’ Eclipse Award champion (ridden by Graham Watters), racing unhurried immediately behind the top pair. There was no significant change in the running order during the first circuit of the course, with Foxy Walk leading by as much as five lengths at one point.

With one lap to go Foxy Walk and Cool Jet raced close together, as Snap Decision moved up to third, about four lengths behind, and South Branch Equine’s Who’s Counting (Sean McDermott) looming ominously as well.

Heading toward the second-to-last fence, Dalton made a quick burst with his mount, spurting clear by several lengths.At the second-to-last hurdle, it was Cool Jet in front with Foxy Walk continuing to battle gamely, and Snap Decision seemingly ready to unleash his run. At the final fence, however, it was all Cool Jet and a determined Foxy Walk, who dug in mightily despite dictating much of the pace, with Who’s Counting moving ahead of Snap Decision for third as the champ seemed to labor a bit. In fact, he was passed late for fourth by Ballybristol Farm’s Noble Anthem (Evan Dwan).

The winner carried 152 pounds, 10 fewer than Snap Decision, who was spotting the field as much as 20 pounds under the handicap conditions of the race.The race was Snap Decision’s first since finishing second in the Iroquois at Nashville in May.

At age 11 he was ineligible to compete in any of the four Grade 1s on the New York Racing Association circuit. For Cool Jet, it was the nine-year-old Irish-bred’s first start since notching the Grade 1 Commonwealth Cup at the Virginia Gold Cup Races in May.Snap Decision used the Tejada as a tightener last year, and though beaten, it served as the perfect prep for the Grade 1 Grand National at Far Hills two weeks later, which earned Snap his championship.

Beowulf prevails in $20,000 maiden claimer

Maranto Manor’s Beowulf avoided traffic created by several loose horses and put in a late surge to take the opener, which like all hurdle races at Foxfield was contested at 2 ⅛ miles.

With Evan Dwan riding to trainer Tom Garner, the seven-year-old Irish-bred won for the first time in 15 NSA starts in three and a half years. During that time, the gelding also ran on the flat several times without success.

Commonwealth Racing’s Philip My Dear (Freddie Procter) assumed the lead at the start, and was soon joined and passed by Buttonwood Farm’s Top of the Field (Bernie Dalton), extending his advantage to about six lengths at one point. Turning for home, the leader was hooked by Beowulf, who was unhurried early and was forced to check several times in traffic. The latter grabbed the lead at the final fence and drew off through the lane to win by about five lengths. Paul and Molly Willis’ Love Shaq (Stephen Mulqueen), who was well-placed throughout, was second. Top ot the Field was third.

Gossiper romps in jump racing debut

In a powerhouse performance, Adam Newman, Tom Rice, and James Stainbrook’s Gossiper broke on top and never looked back in the second race on the card, a $30,000 maiden special weights contest for fillies and mares.

With Freddie Procter riding for trainer Arch Kingsley, the daughter of English Channel, coming off of 19 starts on the flat, took the lead in the field of 10 at the break, and was stalked by Commonwealth Racing’s Carnane (Dan Nevin) and Wendy Hendriks’ Articuno (Conor Tierney), but was never seriously threatened. She had a substantial lead heading to the final fence and widened her advantage to 9 ¼ lengths at the wire. Why Not Racing’s Wilma Flintshire (Richard Boucher) rallied for second; Green Valley Construction and Paul and Molly Willis’ Bold Look (Graham Watters) was third.

The victory was the third straight for Gossiper, who was exiting tallies at Fair Hill in August and at Gulfstream Park in February.

Attrayant makes it two straight for owners Newman and Rice

First time jumper Attrayant, another four-year-old by English Channel, made his NSA debut a winning one with a blowout score in the $40,000 maiden special weights fourth race.

Co-owned by by Adam Newman and Tom Rice — who took the previous maiden contest with the off-the-flat filly Gossiper (also by English Channel), Attrayant is jointly owned by Paul and Molly Willis. And just like Gossiper, Attrayant ran big, this time for jockey Harry Beswick and trainer Barry Foley.

Following the pace set by Leipers Fork Steeplechase’s Yes Sir Jack (Jamie Bargary), Del Rio Racing’s Harrenhal (Conor Tierney) and Runnymoore Racing’s Orders Anthem (Dan Nevin), Attrayant waited until the late going to unfurl his rally, and did so with gusto leaving the final fence. The margin of victory over Harrenhal and Orders Anthem was 11 lengths.

Prior to embarking on his second career, Attrayant started 19 times on the flat, with a lone maiden claiming victory at the Meadowlands a year ago.

Love Saga nails Dante’s Fire in $30,000 handicap

In a thrilling finish, Ivy Hill Stable’s Love Saga got up in the final strides to catch another late closer, Dante’s Fire to take the fourth, a handicap for horses rated at 110 or less.

With Jamie Bargary riding for trainer Sean McDermott, who was aboard another starter, Icandothat, Love Saga sat well off the blistering pace set by longtime runaway leader, Paul and Molly Willis, Todd McKenna, and Betsy Barr’s Pavoni.

Pavoni held the lead until the second to last fence, when he was collared by James Stainbrook, Vincent Bonanni, and PathFinder Racing’s Dante’s Fire (Graham Watters). The duo ground their way to the last jump, as Love Sage rathered steam with Brown Road Racing’s Ricky’s Revenge (Stephen Mulqueen) moving up through the stretch to take the show spot.

The neck win was the first for the six-year-old Maryland-bred since taking a similar handicap at Montpelier.

Crown Him: King of the Kids wins handicap by daylight

James B. Steele’s King of the Kids rallied from off the pace under Bernie Dalton to win eased up by 6 1/4 lengths in the fifth race, a $40,000 handicap for horses rated at 120 or less.

Trained by Cyril Murphy, the six-year-old Minnesota-bred son of Lemon Drop Kid won for the third time in his past four NSA starts. He also won at Foxfield in the spring.

The race began with Hudson River Farms and R and K Racing’s The Insider spurting off to an early lead with Daniel Baker’s Decisive Triumph (Dan Nevin) and Runnymoore Racing’s Tufton Avenue (Conor Tierney) in closest pursuit. Shortly thereafter, Silverton Hill’s Two Past Eight made a big move from the back to join the fray.

With a lap to go, The Insider maintained the advantage, but it was anyone’s race. A quarter-mile from home it was King of the Kids who made a bold move to overtake The Insider at the second to last fence. He opened up by five heading over the final fence as Dalton looked back in mid stretch with no serious threat in sight. Decisive Triumph, who remained prominent throughout, held for second, with Gill Johnston and Sharon Sheppard’s Caramelised (Jamie Bargary) rallying for third.

Newcomers shine in training flat events for Del Rio Racing, Ricky Hendriks, and Conor Tierney

Del Rio Racing’s Passing Game, making his first NSA start for trainer Ricky Hendriks, went wire to wire in the field of 10 under Conor Tierney in the first of two 1 5/8-mile training contests. The four-year-old Medaglia d’Oro gelding was previously owned and trained by Linda Rice and captured his most recent start ($50,000 claimer) at Saratoga in August. Bruton Street-US’ The Addison Pour (Stephen Mulqueen) was two lengths back in second; Shannon Hill Farm’s Naturally Nimble (Eric Poretz) was third. Returning Grade 1 winner Rampoldi Plan, who runs in the colors of Leipers Fork Steeplechase for trainer Leslie Young, was eighth in his first start since June 2024.

In the finale, the same connections rolled out another off-the-track thoroughbred, Rotterdam, a five-year-old son of Mendelssohn, who came from midpack to split horses in the final strides to edge Leipers Fork Steeplechase’s Grey Pharoh (Evan Dwan) and Gill Johnston’s Pure Courage (James Wyatt) by a neck. Also in the field – and finishing fifth – was Leipers Fork’s Vae Patron, a sparsely raced but highly accomplished runner who has made only two U.S. starts in two years, both in the G1 Iroquois, where he finished second, nearly upsetting Snap Decision in 2024, and third in this year’s running.