Iroquois & Willowdale recap

©Tod Marks

Abaan, China Beach, and Gold Charm sparkle in Nashville, while Mr. Fine Threads triumphs in Willowdale’s timber feature.

With 13 races and $690,000 in purses, Saturday’s meets drew more than 90 hurdle and timber entries from maidens, claimers, and ratings handicappers, to novice, allowance, and stakes stars, looking to increase their bankrolls as we head into the summer season at the flat tracks.

The centerpiece was the $250,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois at Percy Warner Park, one of two Grade 1s on the calendar contested at level weights. At three miles, the Iroquois is also the longest hurdle stake on the circuit, an endurance test of a horse’s ability to handle the distance, often under the local heat and humidity. But this year, the weather was near perfect. And so was Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Daigneault Thoroughbreds’ eight-year-old Abaan, who thwarted Bruton Street-US’ Snap Decision attempt to rewrite the record book, and in the process capped an unforgettable day for the husband-and-wife trainer-rider team of Kate and Bernie Dalton.

Here’s how the races played out:

Abaan goes from last to first to earn first Grade 1

Under masterful handling from veteran jockey Dalton, the eight-year-old son of Travers winner Will Take Charge outdueled reigning Eclipse Award champion Snap Decision in the grandest event of the spring season.

At Saturday’s 84th renewal of the event, history was on the line as Snap Decision, the sport’s shining star for seven years, sought to become the first four-time winner of the Iroquois and, by extension, the richest jumper in American jump racing history.

But it was not to be, as Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Daigneault Thoroughbreds’ Abaan, a late-blooming eight-year-old trained by Bernie’s wife, Kate, came from off the pace to collar the champ nearing the uphill drive to the 16th and final fence in the 3-mile test, striding to the wire a little over a length in front. Locally owned Vae Patron, who hadn’t raced in a year following a spectacular second to Snap Decision in last year’s Iroquois, persevered to be just a neck behind in third after sitting close to the pace from the start.

Michael A. Smith’s Foxy Walk, under Gerard Galligan, broke on top and set the pace for the first 15 fences as Vae Patron (Danny Mullins) and Irv Naylor’s Howyabud (Harry Beswick) sat in closest pursuit. Foxy Walk never led by more than three lengths, and the field was spread out more horizontally than vertically during that time. The racing order among the eight contestants, who were running easily, didn’t change significantly. Perhaps uncharacteristically, Snap Decision and jockey Graham Watters positioned themselves toward the rear of the pack on the outside. Abaan and Dalton were behind and to the outside of Snap Decision.

And that’s when the drama began. Heading to the second to last fence, Howyabud lost rider Beswick right around the time Snap Decision and Riverdee Stable’s Zabeel Champion (Freddie Procter) took over from Foxy Walk, with Abaan looming right behind them.

There was a spill at fence 15 involving Zabeel Champion, which led to a chain reaction that took out a tiring Foxy Walk and Gill Johnston’s Zarak the Brave (Evan Dwan). Madaket Stable and Paul and Molly Willis’ Jimmy P (Stephen Mulqueen) was impacted, too. (Though some were shaken up, all of the horses and riders were otherwise OK.) But the three leaders, Snap Decision, Vae Patron, and Abaan, were not.

Rounding the far turn and entering the long stretch, Snap Decision had a short lead over Abaan, who drew even several strides before the final jump and catapulted to the front while going up and over. Dalton peeked back at his foes nearing the finish, but neither was gaining.

The victory was the fourth stakes — and first outside the novice ranks — for Abaan since beginning his second career at Colonial Downs in the summer of 2023. His other victories came in the Foxbrook Champion Hurdle at Far Hills, the Carolina Cup at Springdale Race Course, and the Green Pastures at Percy Warner Park in Nashville last season. In 10 NSA starts, Abaan has been off the board only once. He came close to dethroning Snap Decision in the Grade 2 Temple Gwathmey stakes at Middleburg in April, coming up a neck shot while getting an 18-pound weight concession. In the Iroquois, all horses carried 158 pounds.

Another day at the Beach

When St. Rita Racing’s China Beach captured the Carolina Cup stakes early this spring, the seven-year-old Florida-bred son of Treasure Beach went from a relative unknown to formidable foe. After his score in the $125,000 Green Pastures novice stakes, he’s made the leap to bona fide star.

Curiously, China Beach’s path to glory is almost a carbon copy of that of his (trainer) Kate and (jockey) Bernie Dalton stablemate, Abaan, who conquered Snap Decision in Saturday’s featured Grade 1 Iroquois.

Last year, Abaan took the Carolina Cup and Green Pastures, too, and if China Beach stays healthy, who’s to say he won’t have the chance to duplicate his stablemate’s success.

In this year’s running, China Beach was content to sit in the middle of the field of eight as Butler Hall Racing’s Boldog (Evan Dwan) and Del Rio Racing’s Little Trilby (Gerard Galligan) dueled on the front end, moving into contention at fence 10, and taking command at the 11th. He was all alone at the last jump and drew clear under Bernie Dalton’s handling by four lengths. Upland Flats Racing’s Blue Creek was still a factor at the final fence, but proved no match for the winner.

The win was a popular one as co-owners Rita and Ted Thompson maintain a small stable south of Nashville.

On the flat, China Beach achieved limited success in three seasons of competition mostly in the claiming ranks and mostly at Colonial Downs, Gulfstream Park, and Tampa Bay Downs, making 25 starts, with five wins, four seconds, and two thirds, and earnings of around $90,000. Since switching to jumps, he’s captured three of five; all of his wins have come in succession.

Champion Gold Charm kicks off campaign with a bang

Showing no signs of rust after a six-month layoff, Irv Naylor’s champion mare of 2024 Gold Charm began her march to a second title with a command performance in the $50,000 Margaret Currey Henley filly/mare stakes.

A six-year-old by Group 1 Irish classic winner Golden Horn, Gold Charm has been a hard knocking model of consistency since joining the NSA in the spring of 2023. Following a 0 for 10 record in England, Gold Charm has been rock solid, amassing six wins, one second, and two thirds in 10 NSA outings.

On Saturday, Gold Charm, ridden by Gerard Galligan for trainer Cyril Murphy, raced in third in the field of four as Baltimore Stables’ Diamonds For Her set the pace under Declan Carroll, leading by 10 lengths at one point. Diamonds for Her, a four-year-old British-bred, was making only her second career start, and maintained her edge until the 11th of 12 fences. That’s when Gold Charm accelerated past Leipers Fork Steeplechase’s Porte Jaune (Stephen Mulqueen), who had been in second, and took aim at the leader. The duo were head-to-head turning for home when Diamonds For Her moved awkwardly to the outside bumping Gold Charm.

But the contact had little effect, and Gold Charm maintained her momentum, clearing the final hurdle and extending her advantage to 2 3/4 lengths at the wire. Diamonds For Her had enough left to finish ahead of Porte Jaune.

Danny Mullins, For the Parish jumpstart the day for local connections

Making his first start of the year – and fifth overall – Leipers Fork Steeplechase’s For the Parish settled in mid-pack in a crowded field of nine, launched his bid with two fences remaining, and outdueled Sweet Will over the final jump and through the stretch to score in the opener at Percy Warner Park, the $45,000 Bright Hour handicap for horses rated at 120 or less.

With Irish-jockey Danny Mullins making the cross-Atlantic journey to ride a series of runners for the Leipers Fork team, For the Parish had to work for the win as Hurricana Farm’s Sweet Will (Freddie Procter), was full of run. Turning for home, Sweet Will, who had taken over for tiring pacesetter Theocrat, had a three-length advantage, when For the Parish weaved through horses and gathered steam on the outside. It wasn’t until deep stretch that For the Parish, trained by Leslie Young, drew clear by 2 ¾ lengths. Hard Game’s L’Avvocato (Evan Dwan) closed ground for third.

Bonnebosq, Dynamite Dan take divisions of the $40,000 maiden special weights contests

Hurricana Farm quickly recovered from the sting of dropping the opener by notching the second race on the card, the George Sloan & John Sloan Jr. maiden hurdle, with French-bred five-year-old Bonnebosq.

With Freddie Procter riding for Arch Kingsley, Bonnebosq – named for a community in Normandy, France – settled behind Leipers Fork Steeplechase’s Grey Pharoh (Danny Mullins), then took the lead from another Leipers Fork runner, Off Pieste Rules (Paddy O’Hanlon) only to face a renewed challenge from Grey Pharoh. In fact, Grey Pharoh had a slight edge heading over the final fence, and it wasn’t until the last couple of strides that Bonnebosq poked his head in front. The margin of victory was a neck. Joseph Fowler’s Mosey (Bernie Dalton) rallied from fifth to get up for third.

The Sloan was the second NSA start for Bonnebosq following seven in his homeland where his best finish was a second. In his U.S. debut at Aiken in November, Bonnebosq was second, beaten a nose by Biggerthanbigtime.

In the second division, the Louis Brown McMillan memorial, Northwoods Stable’s Dynamite Dan prevailed against Stonlea Stable’s highly regarded Point Me By (Harry Beswick), a Grade 1 stakes winner on the turf back in 2021 when trained by Eddie Keneally. Six went postward in the McMillan, but it turned out to be a two-horse race at the end.

First-time NSA starter Arturo Toscanini (Stephen Mulqueen) broke on top and led for about a mile over Leipers Fork Steeplechase’s Yes Sir Jack (Danny Mullins) until Hunt Lane Racing’s Quick Cat (Gerard Galligan) took over, racing on top of the tightly bunched group for the next mile. With Evan Dwan aboard, Dynamite Dan, who enjoyed a ground-saving trip along the inside, advanced from sixth to fourth, and was alongside Quick Cat and Point Me By soaring over the 11th of 12 fences. Turning into the stretch, Dynamite Dan quickly surged to the front, leading over the last with Point Me By digging in but falling short by 2 ¼ lengths.

The victory was the first in five NSA tries for Dynamite Dan, who had two second and two thirds in those other outings.

Marcel Magic stands alone in Houghland

Motley Crew Racing’s Marcel Magic ran his 2025 record to two for two, but it didn’t come easy. Three horses lined up for the $25,000 Mason Houghland Memorial allowance over timber, but only one officially finished. Potter Group USA, Gaskells Waste Services, and Ashwell Stable’s Uco Valley (Gerard Galligan) set a leisurely pace, dueled Riverdee Stable’s Penicillin Success (Graham Watters) on the second circuit, challenging the leader at the 15th of 18 fences. But at the 16th jump, Penicillin Success hit the top of the fence, fell, and walked off. Marcel Magic, who had been in contention throughout under Freddie Procter, inherited second and rallied after the 17th fence to narrow the gap, falling short of Uco Valley by three-quarters of a length. But hold all tickets. A stewards’ inquiry determined that Uco Valley had left the prescribed course in the early going, and he was subsequently disqualified.

Marcel Magic, trained by Kathy Neilson, is a lightly raced five-year-old Irish-bred. This was his fifth start and second over timber. He broke his maiden in his previous outing at the My Lady’s Manor races in Monkton, Md., in April.

And at Willowdale

The Willowdale card featured six races worth $115,000, headlined by the $35,000 Willowdale Steeplechase timber stakes for amateur riders at 3 1/2 miles. The Willowdale drew a field of six led by recent winners Mr. Fine Threads and Master Seville (both in allowance events), and Irv Naylor’s Macheeda (maiden).

Oakdene Stable’s veteran stakes star Storm Team, ridden by Justin Batoff, showed the way for most of the going, with South Branch Equine’s Master Seville (Dan Nevin), and Greenlights’ The Butler Yates (Jordan Canavan) sitting close behind. The field was traveling easily until the pace quickened with several fences to go. Storm Team was able to maintain his advantage, but The Butler Yates was traveling faster on the extreme outside, while Armata Stable’s Mr. Fine Threads, ridden by Charlie Marshall for trainer Joe Davies, launched his bid from last. Those three took the last fence in unison, though they were spread far apart. Mr. Fine Threads held the advantage in the straight and was able to hold off hard-charging The Butler Yates for the win, with a resurgent Storm Team battling gamely for third. The winning margin was a length and a half. The victory was the second of the season for Mr. Fine Thread in three tries, his sole blemish coming as a DNF in the Maryland Hunt Cup.

Tufton Avenue gives trainer McKenna his first of two wins in a row

Runnymoore Racing’s Tufton Avenue started the day with a victory in the $15,000 Liam Magee apprentice rider allowance over Willowdale’s natural brush hedges.

Silverton Hill’s Two Past Eight (Luke Carberry) broke alertly in the field of eight, which quickly spread out from front to back. He held the lead for several jumps until Merriebelle Stable’s Beat Le Bon (Dylan McDonough) took over with Two Past Eight, Daniel Baker’s Decisive Triumph (Brett Owings) and Vivian Rall’s Icandothat (Charlie Marshall) in close pursuit, and Tufton Avenue just behind them.

Turning for home, Two Past Eight drew even with Beat Le Bon heading toward the final jump as Tufton Avenue moved to within a couple of lengths and ready to pounce. Tufton Avenue gained momentum past the final fence, racing to the inside of his foes, and drew clear under strong urging by 2 3/4 lengths. Two Past Eight held second with James B. Steele’s King of the Kids (Elizabeth Scully) rallying for third.

Anador scores in maiden claimer

After a lengthy career that took her from Longchamps to Tampa Bay, Paul and Molly Willis’ Anador made a successful NSA bow with a determined performance in the $15,000 Folly maiden claiming hurdle under jockey Virginia Korrell riding for trainer Todd McKenna.

The six-year-old French-bred daughter of multiple Grade 1 and Breeders’ Cup-placed Anodin sat toward the front of the nine-horse field as Sharon Sheppard’s King of Tsavo (Jordan Canavan) set the pace, followed by Morning Star Farm’s Starforce (Conor Tierney) and Shannon Hill Farm’s Sliabh Aughty (Eric Poretz). Anador took command on the far turn, building a clear lead heading over the final fence, and held on by a diminishing three-quarters of a length over fast closing Tea With Edgar, owned by David Lee Hain Jr. and ridden by Mell Boucher. Starforce was third.

Prior to Saturday’s win, Anador started 33 times in maiden, claiming, and allowance ranks at a dozen race tracks in the U.S. and France, winning four times and earning more than $166,000.

Ruthenian comes up roses in 110 handicap

Hard Game’s Ruthenian unleashed an all-out drive going from seventh to first to capture the $20,000 Rose Tree Cup, a handicap for horses rated at 110 or less.

With Mell Boucher riding for trainer Kathy Neilson, the six-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Union Rags raced unhurried – in ninth of 11 – after the first mile, advancing steadily thereafter.

There was a spirited battle for the early lead with Riverdee Stable’s Roja Redemption (Dylan McDonagh) eventually showing the way. The rest of the field was strung out behind the leader with a slew of different runners shuffling for position during the ensuing action. Turning into the stretch the final time and heading toward the last jump, Roja Redemption remained in front as Keystone Thoroughbreds’ Pavoni (Conor Tierney) drew alongside with James Stainbrook’s Dante’s Fire (Jordan Canavan) putting in a big run. In mid-stretch, Roja Redemption grudgingly gave way as Dante’s Fire took the lead. Meanwhile, Ruthenian came flying on the far inside to get up by a head.

De Nordener breaks maiden in first NSA start

Armata Stables’ newcomer De Nordener, an Irish-bred and campaigned nine-year-old, earned the most lopsided victory on the card with a 6 ½-length triumph in the $15,000 Landhope Cup maiden timber contest.

Ridden by Charlie Marshall for trainer Joe Davies, the son of Ocovango, a Group 2 winner in France, stalked in third alongside Kinross Farm’s Racavan (Mell Boucher) in the field of nine, close behind Runnymoore Racing’s frontrunner, Old Style Humor (Dan Nevin). The second time around the course, Kiplin Hall’s Take Profit (Conor Tierney) joined the fray. Heading round the turn toward the final fence, De Nordener took over as Old Style Humor faded and Take Profit tried to catch the new leader, to no avail. Over the last fence and through the stretch, De Nordener widened his advantage and in the final strides, Michael A. Smith’s Project Two (Jordan Canavan) rallied to edge Take Profit for the place position.

Huyana wins war of attrition in Foxhunter’s Chase

Five horses started but only one – EHB Stable’s Huyana – finished in the $15,000 Willard Speakman Memorial, an allowance contest over timber for apprentice riders.

Leipers Fork Steeplechase’s Court Ruler (Jordan Canavan), a 12-time winner who has long been a model of consistency in the allowance and handicap ranks over hurdles and timber, broke on top and extended his lead quickly, opening up by as many as around six lengths over Armata Stables’ Imperial Assassin (Conor Tierney). But it didn’t take long for the race to come apart. At fence two, Court Ruler fell and Imperial Assassin lost his rider on the landing, and one of those loose runners caused Riverdee Stable’s Include It and jockey James Wyatt to go off course.

Huyana inherited the lead and was loping along with City of Grace (Virginia Korrell) in close pursuit. But a couple of fences from the wire, City of Grace lost his rider, and all Scully had to do was complete the course for the win.