Mystic Strike, Carloun sparkle at reimagined Gold Cup Races

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 when course conditions prompted the relocation of the International Gold Cup Races from its home at Great Meadow Race Course, located about 14 miles south.

Despite the move, a large and enthusiastic crowd turned out for the NSA’s second richest race meet on the fall calendar which was highlighted by an unforgettable career finale by timber legend Mystic Strike and the arrival of an up-and-coming star on the hurdle scene, Carloun.  Here’s a race-by-race recap of the action:

With victory in $75,000 Gold Cup, Mystic Strike calls it a career

Upland Partner’s spectacular 15-year-old goes out a winner with an 8 1/4-length score in the International Gold Cup timber stakes. It was an equally big day for Mystic Strike’s jockey Gerard Galligan, who booted home three winners on the eight-race card.

With reigning timber champ Schoodic scratched along with Rhythmia and Bogey’s Image, the Gold Cup turned into a three-horse race. And when Sherry Fenwick’s Anticipating went off course early in the going, it further evolved into a match race between the Todd McKenna-trained warhorse and Hyggelig Haven’s Druid’s Altar, with Evan Dwan aboard.

Once Anticipating was out of the contest, Druid’s Altar maintained the advantage for much of the 3 1/2 miles, but Mystic Strike, who was running easily, took command heading downhill toward the final fence, extending his lead through the stretch.

After the race, an exuberant McKenna proclaimed, “That’s it; he’s retired.”

And what a career it has been. The Florida-bred son of Smart Strike won 17 of 53 starts since beginning his career on the flat in 2012, and finished second 13 times and third on seven occasions. His total earnings were nearly a half-million dollars. He amassed 10 stakes victories.

A few days after the race, owner Bill Wylie had this to say about his now-retired star:

“Upland Partners announced after his win in the International Gold Cup that they were retiring Mystic Strike after nine seasons and 30 NSA sanctioned races over timber. Mystic competed in at least one race in each of those nine seasons, breaking his maiden in his first start in 2016 at Winterthur, winning 13 races over fences altogether, 10 in timber stakes. His 10 place and show finishes over timber were to some of the best horses in training including Zanclus, Schoodic, Vintage Vinnie, Tomgarrow, Court Ruler, and Andi’Amu. Mystic Strike was fortunate to be ridden in his wins by a list of very talented riders including Annie Yeager, Mark Beecher, Skylar McKenna, Tom Garner and, most recently, Gerard Galligan.

“Mystic Strike had been a promising but inconsistent horse in his 23 starts on the flat, and was especially difficult around the barn. He benefitted immediately as a five-year-old from life on the farm with Todd McKenna, who hunted and trained him brilliantly over fences. We always put his well being first, hopefully contributing to his long career. We are all resigned to this being a once in a lifetime horse, but are incredibly grateful for our time with him, and for all who guided him to his successes. It was a thrilling ride.”

Carloun lands first Grade 1 in $150,000 Will Allison Stakes

Paul and Molly Willis’ five-year-old Irish-bred captured his third straight hurdle race, going from maiden winner to Grade 1 winner in less than three months, and in the process gave the gelding’s owners their first victory in top-class competition, and trainer Keri Brion a triumph in three of the last four NSA G1s.

For jockey Stephen Mulqueen it was another star-studded notch in this breakout season. The win was his third Grade 1, too, having been aboard Jimmy P — partly owned by Willis — in the Jonathan Sheppard at Saratoga and Freddy Flintshire in the Lonesome Glory at Aqueduct, both for Brion.

With Leipers Fork Steeplechasers’ Pickanumber a scratch, the Allison field was reduced to four, and Carloun wasted no time gunning for the lead, setting a brisk pace, and extending his one-length advantage throughout most of the 2 1/8 mile contest to 3 1/2 lengths at the wire. Sonny Via’s Welshman rallied from fourth to second under leading rider Graham Watters, with Irv Naylor’s Too Friendly (Paddy O’Hanlon) third.

St. James the Great overcomes trouble to beat older foes in $40,000 maiden opener

In a performance that was nothing short of spectacular, NSA newcomer St. James the Great came from far back under Stephen Mulqueen to nail Stonelea Stable and Bonnie Rye Stable’s Risk Taking in the final strides of the 2 1/8-mile maiden special weights opener.

Not only did the three-year-old son of 2018 Travers winner Catholic Boy have to defeat older and more seasoned competitors, but he had to overcome traffic in deep stretch that forced him to check twice and cut to the far outside, and stick his nose in front at the last possible moment.

Owned by Serio Racing Stables, USA Steeplechase, R and K Racing, and Paul and Molly Willis, St. James the Great was making only his second start over jumps for trainer Keri Brion. The Kentucky-bred avenged his unfortunate NSA debut two weeks earlier over the same Glenwood Park course, where he unseated his rider at the first fence in the $50,000 Will O’Keefe Memorial three-year-old hurdle stakes.

Looking like a seasoned pro on Sunday, St. James the Great was content to sit in fifth of six for much of the going, running easily as Hickory Made Stables and Celtic Venture Stable’s Made to Be Lucky (Whitney Schweizer) set the pace for the majority of the journey. The pace quickened heading toward the 11th and final fence as Ballybristol Farm’s Cartographer (Graham Watters) and Risk Taking (Gerard Galligan) dueled for the lead, continuing their battle downhill toward the stretch. At this point St. James the Great was still well back in fourth, behind Runnymoore Racing’s The Wizards Well (Jamie Bargary), and it looked like a two-horse race to the wire. Entering the stretch, St. James the Great was breathing down the leaders’ necks on the far inside, and had no place to go. He was remarkably able to get out, regain his momentum, and get up in time for the win. Risk Taking was second, Cartographer third.

Praghas Ceart makes it back-to-back wins at Glenwood Park

Two weeks ago, Metahorse Racing’s Praghas Ceart was a 3 1/2-length maiden winner at the Virginia Fall Races at Glenwood Park, and on Sunday the five-year-old Irish-bred son of Sea Moon came right back to score by a similar margin in a $50,000 non-winners of two allowance.

Trained and ridden by Sean McDermott, Praghas Ceart led from the start, drew clear into the final hurdle, and widened his advantage through the stretch under hand urging. Upland Flats Racing’s three-year-old Blue Creek, a recent maiden winner at Shawan Downs in his first NSA start, closed from fourth to second under Stephen Mulqueen, three lengths clear of South Branch Equine’s I Can Only Imagine (Dan Nevin).

Quick Master gives Bruton Street-US another winner by Hard Spun

The stallion Hard Spun is making his presence known in steeplechase circles. Besides Snap Decision, the likely Eclipse Award winner, owner Bruton Street-US has a new up-and-comer by the sire in Quick Master.

On Sunday, the five-year-old Kentucky-bred, who like Snap Decision is trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Graham Watters, came from off the pace to run away with the $35,000 David L. “Zeke” Ferguson handicap, a race for runners rated at 115 or less, by 6 1/4 lengths.

Quick Master was content to sit in third for the first mile and a half, closing stoutly from the second-to-last fence in the 2 1/2 mile event, securing a clear advantage at the final jump, and winning as he pleased under hard urging. Vivian Rall’s Icandothat (Sean McDermott), coming off a 110 handicap tally at Foxfield earlier this month, was second after dueling with Daniel Baker’s Decisive Triumph (Dan Nevin). Decisive Triumph was third.

For Quick Master, it was his second score in his last four races; he broke his maiden at Aiken last November, defeating Shannon Hill Farm’s Evie’s Prince, among others, who went on to capture the Michael G. Walsh novice stakes at Saratoga over the summer.

L’Avvocato reverses form, breaks maiden in $30,000 optional claimer

KSN Racing’s L’Avvocato earned his first trip to the winner’s circle in five NSA outings with a come-from behind score in one of two hurdle events for horses entered for a $25,000 tag or who had previously been entered in a claiming race at that level.

With Evan Dwan riding for trainer Kathy Neilson, the French-bred five-year-old son ofthe  legendary Frankel settled at the rear of the five-horse field, where he remained for 1 3/4 miles. He gradually moved up from fourth after the final fence, and got up just in time at the wire.

James B. Steele’s King of the Kids (Gerard Galligan), who was in third behind Louisa Stevenson and Achsah O’Donovan’s Greylover (Dan Nevin) and Zane Carruth’s Thatsmyboxer (Graham Watters) for most of the way, closed well to secure the lead only to get collared at the wire. Ballybristol Farm’s Love Foreverafter (Parker Hendriks) was third.

Not only was the victory L’Avvocato’s first, but it was also his first in-the-money finish, having been seventh twice with two DNFs on the NSA circuit after coming stateside from France.

The “Little” engine that could comes up big

In the second division of the optional claiming maiden hurdle, Over Creek Stables’ Little GT rocketed to the lead, extended it to as much as 25 lengths, and had plenty left in the tank to coast home by 9 lengths.

The victory was the third of the day for jockey Gerard Galligan, and the first for Little GT in seven starts this season since joining the NSA circuit in April. Julie Gomena trained the winner. Go Poke the Bear Syndicate’s Cant Catch Camacho (Jamie Bargary) was in second from the start and maintained a length and a half advantage over the third-place finisher, Slingshot Racing’s Lake Mamba (Graham Watters).

Fashion Line wins second Steeplethon at Glenwood

Duplicating his success of a year ago, Armata Stables’ Fashion Line took aim at pro-tem leader Eye of Gunfighter at around the two-mile mark and went on to score a definitive 4 3/4-length victory in the 2 5/8 mile, $20,000 Steeplethon over mixed obstacles.

The Kathy Neilson trainee, who upset Court Ruler in the Steeplethon at Glenwood Park during last October’s Virginia Fall meet, was coming off of a third to that foe and Wicked West in the Steeplethon over this same course two weeks ago.

Court Ruler scratched out of Sunday’s race, but Genet Racing’s Wicked West was ready to defend his crown. However,  Fashion Line had other ideas. Settling at the back of the four-horse field, Fashion Line, with Gerard Galligan up, made his move as the field wound its way around a tall pine tree, speeding past Wicked West and William Russell’s Animal Kingston as Eye of Gunfighter went very wide and fell out of contention. From there, the eight-year-old son of Morning Line was uncatchable, though his two challengers continued to dig in and give chase. At the wire, Wicked West was second, about 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Animal Kingston.

The victory was Galligan’s third on the card.