Lee Pokoik’s Roller Rolls On won the year’s only hurdle race for three-year-olds, and he is one of 12 nominees to the Far Hills’ Races’ $50,000 Gladstone Stakes on Saturday, Oct. 20.
The 2 1/8-mile Gladstone for three-year-olds is one of the stakes races on program for the 98th annual Far Hills Races in New Jersey. Highlighting the $850,000 card is the $450,000 Grand National (Gr. 1) for the National Steeplechase Association’s championship division.
The result of the Gladstone will be a significant factor in determining the year’s three-year-old champion. Pokoik, a longtime Thoroughbred owner-breeder, bred Roller Rolls On, who had been picking up small checks in New York Racing Association maiden flat races.
In the hands of trainer Doug Fout, the Lemon Drop Kid gelding collected his first career victory at Shawan Downs on Sept. 29 when Barry Foley guided him to a half-length victory in a $20,000 maiden hurdle restricted to three-year-olds.
Finishing second in the Shawan race was Gladstone nominee Snowie Hill, whose name honors the memory of Frances Snowden “Snowie” Hill Myers, the late mother of owner-trainer-breeder F. Hill Parker. A full sister to NSA novice and female champion Get Ready Set Goes, Snowie Hill made a nice move under Richard Boucher to take second money.
Trainer Jimmy Day nominated S. Bruce Smart Jr.’s Hepcat, who finished third in the Shawan race. Other Gladstone nominees from the Shawan race are Gillian Johnston’s Knockholt, who was fourth; Riverdee Stable’s Flushed, fifth; Edition Farm’s Sim Card, sixth; Bruton Street-US’s Leopold, seventh; and Sanna Neilson’s Benevolentdictator, eighth.
Prominent Irish trainer Gordon Elliott nominated Rosbrian Farm’s Caldeck, who made his first start over hurdles at Ballinrobe Racecourse on Sept. 21 and finished fourth in the juvenile allowance on ground rated as heavy.
Here are the 12 nominees to the Gladstone in alphabetical order.
Benevolventdictator. 2015 b. g., Giant’s Causeway—The Right Pew, by Pulpit. Owner-trainer: Sanna Neilson. Breeder: Alex G. Campbell Thoroughbreds. 2018 NSA record: 1-0-0-0, $0. In first start over fences, never was a factor and finished eighth in Shawan Downs maiden hurdle for three-year-olds.
Broken Force. 2015 ch. g., Broken Vow—New Girlfriend (Ire), by Diesis (GB). Owner: Caves Farm. Trainer: William Dowling. Breeder: Merriebelle Stable (Ky). 2018 NSA record: No starts. Making first start over fences after flat career in England. Won maiden victory in modest Haydock handicap.
Caldbeck (GB). 2015 b. g., Dark Angel (Ire)—Geesala (Ire), by Barathea (Ire). Owner: Rosbrian Farm. Trainer: Gordon Elliott. Breeder: Kilshannig Stud (GB). 2018 NSA record: No starts. Maiden on flat made first start over hurdles at Ballinrobe Racecourse in Ireland in September 2018 and finished fourth.
Flushed. 2015 ch. g., Cape Blanco (Ire)—Warm Glow, by Sky Classic. Owner: Riverdee Stable. Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard. Breeder: Jonathan Sheppard (Pa.). 2018 NSA record: 1-0-0-0, $800. Maiden on flat finished fifth in first start over fences at 2018 Shawan Downs meet.
Hepcat. 2015 dk. b. or br. g., Bluegrass Cat—Officer Pepper, by Officer. Owner: S. Bruce Smart Jr. Trainer: Jimmy Day. Breeder: Daybreak Stables (W.Va.) In first start over fences, led before last in 2018 Shawan Downs maiden hurdle for three-year-olds and faded slightly to finish third, beaten 3 1/4 lengths.
Knockholt. 2015 b. g., Temple City—Vickey Jane, by Royal Academy. Owner: Gillian Johnston. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Breeder: Barry Hay (Ky.). 2018 NSA record: 1-0-0-0, $1,000. Maiden claimer winner at Tampa Bay Downs made first career start over fences in 2018 Shawan Downs maiden hurdle for three-year-olds and finished fourth after tracking pacesetters.
Leopold. 2015 ch. g., Eye of the Leopard—Lady Melesi, by Colonial Affair. Owner: Bruton Street-US. Trainer: William Dowling. Breeder: Calumet Farm (Ky.) 2018 NSA record: 1-0-0-0, $0. Maiden winner at two made first jumps start in 2018 Shawan Downs maiden hurdle for three-year-olds and finished seventh.
Lonely Weekend. 2015 b. g., Tiznow—Weekend Party, by A.P. Indy. Owner: Riverdee Stable. Trainer: Todd Wyatt. Breeder: Wertheimer et Frere (Ky.) 2018 NSA record: No starts. Maiden flat winner at Laurel Park on muddy track finished sixth in $20,000 claimer at Monmouth Park in June.
Roller Rolls On. 2015 b. g., Lemon Drop Kid—Classofsixtythree, by Include. Owner: Lee Pokoik. Trainer: Doug Fout. Breeder: Lee Pokoik (Ky.) 2018 NSA record: 1-1-0-0, $12,000. In first start over fences, shadowed pace in 2018 Shawan Downs maiden hurdle for three-year-olds, led over the last fence, and fended off challenge to win by a half-length.
Sim Card. 2015 b. g., Simmard—Runaway Zia, by Runaway Groom. Owner: Edition Farm. Trainer: Kate Dalton. Breeder: Edition Farm (N.Y.). 2018 NSA record: 1-0-0-0, $600. In first start of 2018 and first start over fences, finished sixth in Shawan Downs maiden hurdle for three-year-olds.
Snowie Hill. 2015 b. f., Run Away and Hide—Ready to Goes, by Lord Avie. Owner-trainer: F. Hill Parker. Breeder: F. Hill Parker (Oh.) 2018 NSA record: 1-0-1-0, $3,600. Finished second in first start over fences, a 2018 maiden hurdle for three-year-olds at Shawan Downs. Full sister to Get Ready Set Goes, stakes-winning champion novice and female in 2016. Had two wins over state-bred fillies in the spring at Cincinnati’s Belterra Downs and was third in Vivacious Handicap for state-bred fillies and mares in August at Belterra. Filly’s name honors owner-trainer-breeder’s mother, Frances Snowden Hill Myers, the breeder of Get Ready Set Goes who died in 2014.
Tiepolo (Ire). 2015 gr. or ro. g., Dark Angel (Ire)—Trempjane (GB), by Lujain. Owner: Petticoats Loose Farm. Trainer: Merriwether Morris. Breeder: Yeomanstown Stud (Ire). 2018 NSA record: No starts. Making first start over fences after modest flat career in England as a two-year-old.