Iroquois & Willowdale recap
©Tod Marks
Riverdee Stable and Del Rio Racing soar in Nashville, while Joe Davies triples in Kennett Square.
Before a huge crowd estimated at 35,000, the 85th Iroquois Races outside of Nashville proved to be a tour de force for leading owner Riverdee Stable, which captured two of the four stakes on the seven-race, $730,000 card, including the centerpiece of the program, the Grade 1 $250,000 Iroquois with Zabeel Champion.
The win was particularly satisfying because Zabeel Champion, who finished a close third to Snap Decision in 2024, fell at the 15th fence last year while in serious contention. Riverdee struck again with Rocket One, who completed a successful road back following a two-year layoff with a determined half-length victory in the $125,000 Marcellus Frost novice stakes.
Not to be outdone, local owner Del Rio Racing enjoyed a stellar day as well. Coutach, who has been nothing short of sensational since coming over from Europe late last season, earned his third stakes tally in five NSA starts, with an equally hard-fought score in the $125,000 Green Pastures, a second novice stakes on the card. Coutach’s new Del Rio stablemate Blue Waters, a first-time NSA starter from champion Irish conditioner Gordon Elliott, was impressive putting away a star-studded field of fillies and mares in the $100,000 Margaret Currey Henley, which earned graded status ( G2) for the first time.
Here’s how the races played out:
Zabeel Champion comes from behind to take the Calvin Houghland Iroquois
For the longest time, it appeared as if the pacesetter, Stone Farm and Upland Flats Racing’s Swore, who put in a huge effort in the three-mile endurance test, was home free, but jockey Freddie Procter was able to urge the nine-year-old British-bred in the final strides to catch the leader in the biggest stakes of the spring.
The victory was the second for the Jack Fisher-trainee, who captured the $100,000 Temple Gwathmey(G2) at Middleburg last month, and it raised his career earnings above the half-million-dollar mark. This was his first success in a G1.
The race began with Zabeel Champion content to lay back in eighth (of 10) for the first 2 miles. In fact, he was ninth at the 2 ½-mile mark with one fence to go. Swore, under Stephen Mulqueen, had been running easily on the lead since the flag drop and the entire field had been loping along comfortably the first circuit of the course.
With two jumps to go, the field was bunched up behind and alongside Swore. Leipers Fork Steeplechase’s Vae Patron (Graham Watters), who had stalked in second from the outset, drew even with Swore only to tire badly. Bective Stud’s Zanahiyr (Jack Kennedy) winner of the 2025 Grand National (G1) at Far Hills, then made his move as did Daigneault Thoroughbreds and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Abaan (Bernie Dalton), last year’s Iroquois star, and Bruton Street-US’ Ziggle Pops, another Grade 1 winner on the comeback trail.
Heading into the final turn for the long uphill haul to the last fence, Swore briefly increased his advantage, but his challengers were full of run. Though Zanahiyr and Abaan wilted, four others had a puncher’s chance over the 16th fence, including Ziggle Pops, Del Rio Racing’s Fil Dor (Jake Coen), and Leipers Fork Steeplechase’s James Du Berlais (Danny Mullins). Swore cleared the last hurdle beautifully and looked like a winner until about 50 years from the wire when Zabeel Champion cut to his inside and, in the words of racecaller Tony Bentley, “came from nowhere” to edge Swore by a neck. Ziggle Pops was another two lengths back in third.
Boldog goes from last to first in opener for first NSA win
Butler Hall’s Boldog earned his first trip to the winner’s circle in seven NSA outings with a come-from-behind charge in the $45,000 Bright Hour 120 ratings handicap to kick off the card. Tom Garner trained the winner and Evan Dwan was in the saddle.
Boldog raced in last for the first mile and moved into ninth of 10 at the two-mile mark. He gained ground on the outside to be second at fence 14, had a clear advantage at the final jump, and drew off through the stretch to score by five lengths. Sharon Sheppard’s King of Tsavo was second; Joseph Fowler’s Scoop the Pot third.
Gordon Elliott’s NSA win streak continues in Brown McMillan maiden stakes
Picking up where he left off at Far Hills in October — running the table and winning all five of the steeplechase races on the card — champion Irish trainer Gordon Elliott shipped over another juggernaut in Leamington Racing’s Famous Figure to capture the $60,000 stakes race for maidens by 6 1/4 widening lengths.
Team Valor International’s McLovin, who made his NSA debut for the prominent flat ownership group in the McDynamo Maiden Stakes at Far Hills, was second. Genet Racing’s Really Good, who finished second in his debut at Middleburg last month was third.
Elliott’s top man, Jack Kennedy, who was aboard four of the conditioner’s Far Hills winners, came stateside again to ride the winner — one of two victories on the card for the duo. The four-year-old was making his seventh career start and was already a winner in a bumper flat race last year at Punchestown.
Rocket One steps up in Marcellus Frost
After three straight runner-up finishes, including a recent second to highly regarded stablemate Cyber Ninja in the Van Clief Memorial at Foxfield, Riverdee Stable and Ten Strike Racing’s Rocket One(Jamie Bargary) came from last to first to hold off Shannon Hill Farm’s Mr. Percy by a half length in the second of two $125,000 novice stakes races on the Iroquois program. Gail Jackson Clark’s Predominate was third.
The seven-year-old son of Into Mischief had been a horse to watch ever since he came off the flat at the end of 2022. He finished second in his first two maiden tries (once to eventual G1 winner Rampoldi Plan), then romped at Colonial Downs in the summer of 2023 and followed it up with another score in a 115 ratings handicap at Shawan Downs. He was fourth in his initial stakes outing, the Harry Harris at Far Hills – his only off-the-board finish. Rocket Man was second twice in 2024 before being sidelined. He re-emerged in top form late last month when he was caught late by his Riverdee stablemate Cyber Ninja in the Van Clief Memorial, his first start in 23 months.
Elliott, Kennedy strike again with newcomer Blue Waters in Henley
It was an early season showdown among top National Steeplechase Association fillies and mares in the $100,000 Margaret Currey Henley stakes, which earned Grade 2 status as a result of a $50,000 purse boost.
Included in the field of nine were the 2024 distaff champion, Irv Naylor’s Gold Charm, who captured the Henley in her only start last season; Runnymoore Racing’s Timetoshine, winner of the Life’s Illusion in 2025; and Paul and Molly Willis, Dark Horse Racing, Atlantic Friends Racing, and The International Venture’s Anoint, runner up in the prestigious Peapack at Far Hills in October.
But when the dust settled it was Del Rio Racing’s new acquisition, Blue Waters, who powered home a winner under Jack Kennedy for trainer Gordon Elliott.
Gill Johnston’s Belle Wish, a maiden, set the pace under visiting Irish rider Danny Mullins, spurting off to a sizable advantage. But when the real racing began the second time around, the field bunched up and it was a five-horse race. Heading into the far turn and gearing up for the uphill climb to the final fence, Belle Wish was still game, as Gold Charm and Jamie Bargary loomed on the far outside. To the inside was Timetoshine and Dan Nevin, while to his left was a fast-moving Blue Waters.
Nearing the last jump, Blue Waters was traveling quickest of all, but Timetoshine and Gold Charm remained within striking range, with all three digging in through the lane. At the wire it was the five-year-old Blue Waters by a length and a half over Timetoshine, with Annoint (Stephen Mulqueen) kicking in late to get up for the show spot.
The victory was the second for Blue Waters, who had previously taken a maiden hurdle in her home country. Blue Waters will remain stateside, with Ricky Hendriks taking over the training duties.
Step Out steps up in $25,000 Mason Houghland
Runnymoore Racing’s Step Out won his second straight NSA timber race, outdueling Riverdee Stable’s Potus in the finale at Percy Warner Park, an allowance contest for non-winners of three races over timber.
With Graham Watters riding for trainer Neil Morris, the seven-year-old Irish-bred son of Walk in the Park was never farther back than third in the field of six. He moved into second behind the longtime pacesetter, Upland Partners’ Bob’s Bar, at the 2-mile mark, got hooked by hard-charging Potus, who rallied from last under Jamie Bargary, and the two duked it out from the final fence to the wire with a head separating them at the wire. It was another 6 1/4 lengths back to Shannon Hill Farm’s Evie’s Prince (Stephen Mulqueen), also trained by Morris.
The win was the second straight for Step Out, who broke his maiden over post and rails at the My Lady’s Manor races last month. Before that, he made one NSA start, finishing fifth over hurdles, at Shawan Downs last fall following a long European campaign.
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 seven led by Daniel Colhoun, Achsah O’Donovan, and Harvey Goolsby’s Bogey’s Image, who finished first in the My Lady’s Manor stakes only to be disqualified because his jockey came in under the assigned weight. But there was no denying the lightly raced nine-year-old Maryland-bred in the Willowdale, where he led for the entire contest under Teddy Davies, drawing off powerfully by nearly 14 lengths. The victory was one of two for the young rider and one of three for his dad, trainer Joe Davies.
Irv Naylor’s 2023 Maryland Hunt Cup winner Withoutmoreado was second under Eric Poretz, while last year’s Pennsylvania Hunt Cup star, South Branch Equine’s Master Seville (Cal Shine) was third.
In the opener, the $15,000 Liam McGee apprentice rider hurdle at 2 ¼ miles, jockey Luke Carberry was another front-running winner, piloting Silverton Hill’s Two Past Eight to a 2 ½-length tally over James B. Steele’s King of the Kids (Mell Boucher). Irv Naylor’s Grade 1 winner, Belfast Banter, was third with Elizabeth Scully aboard. The victory was the second straight for Two Past Eight in allowance company. In between those allowance wins, Two Past Eight was off the board in the Aflac Supreme Hurdle and the Carolina Cup stakes.
While owner Devon Smith was celebrating Boldog’s handicap victory in Nashville, she had more to cheer about when Lewins Gully, ridden by Paddy Barlow for trainer Todd McKenna, captured the $15,000 maiden claiming hurdle at 2 ¼ miles over Willowdale’s natural brush hurdles.
Lewins Gully stalked leader Photo Copy in third the first time around the course, was sent to the lead on the backside the final time, and fought off a challenge by Port Lairge Stables’ Whiskeyinthejaro for the 1 ½-length win. Butler Hall’s Mainstream Sellout was third.
In the $20,000 Rose Tree Cup, a 110 ratings handicap, also at 2 ¼ miles, Irv Naylor newcomer Ranger Thunderbolt earned his third straight win – and fourth in five outings – dating back to Newmarket in England in 2023.The six-year-old Irish-bred, ridden by Elizabeth Scully for trainer Cyril Murphy, inherited the lead shortly after the start when Richard Colton’s Benji’s Benefit lost his rider, and never looked back. He maintained a clear lead into the final turn, and held off challenges from Leipers Fork Steeplechase’s Garrrison Forest and Massie Land & Cattle’s Brie’s Mission, who finished second and third, respectively. The margin of victory was two lengths.
Ranger Thunderbolt made his NSA debut at Morven Park in April, romping by 30 lengths in a maiden claimer. Prior to that he was a two-time winner in six starts in Europe, winning a pair of flat races, at Newmarket and Newbury. His win at Morven Park came after a layoff of more than 2 ½ years.
Armata Stables’ The Ballybreen Fox gave the father-son Davies duo its second winner on the card, in the $15,000 Landhope Cup maiden race at 3 miles over timber. The eight-year-old, who was making only his fifth career start, rated in midpack behind the pacesetter, Bruton Street-US’ Doesn’t Sting, sat in fourth after 2 ½ miles, and was still in third after the final fence. From there, he surged past Doesn’t Sting and Hard Game’s Ruthenian, drawing clear by three lengths. Doesn’t Sting held the place spot with Kiplin Hall’s Shining Marble putting in a strong closing rush to get up for third.
In the finale, the $15,000 Willard Speakman Memorial Foxhunter’s Chase over timber for apprentice riders, Joe Davies teamed up with his recent Maryland Hunt Cup-winning jockey, Charlie Marshall, to find the winner’s circle with another Armata Stables’ runner, De Nordener. The victory made De Nordener the first three-time winner of the season. It was his fourth score in five NSA starts since coming stateside from Ireland in 2025.
De Nordener was in striking range of the leaders in the field of six from the start, sitting in third, then moving up to second behind Runnymoore Racing’s Old Style Humor. He drew even with the leader at the final fence, and kicked clear in the stretch by nearly five lengths. Petticoats Loose Farm’s The Kid Rocks was 10 lengths back in third.