Arcadia Stable’s Bubble Economy, always well placed under Paddy Young, surrendered the lead to Bon Caddo in the $75,000 Virginia Gold Cup after the last of 23 timber fences on Saturday, May 1, but fought back valiantly to win by a half-length and secure his second victory in the prestigious race.
Trained by Jack Fisher, Bubble Economy had won the Virginia Gold Cup in 2008 and then finished second last year on the Great Meadow Race Course in The Plains, Va. He had come into the 85th Virginia Gold Cup from a head loss in the My Lady’s Manor after just failing to catch South Monarch on April 10.
Young, last year’s National Steeplechase Association champion jockey, placed the 11-year-old Rakeen gelding in third position early as EMO Stables’ He’s a Conniver opened a big lead under Chip Miller, with Fort Henry tracking his pace.
He’s a Conniver led for more than three miles of the Virginia Gold Cup, repelling challenges by Joseph G. Davies’ Fort Henry and J. Alfred Prufrock, ridden by owner-trainer Conrad Somers.
Bubble Economy jumped to the lead at the third to last fence and had a comfortable lead over H. Bruce Fenwick’s Bon Caddo going into the last fence. But the leader jumped the post-and-rail fence lackadaisically, and Bon Caddo took the lead under Patrick Worrall. Young then went to work on Bubble Economy, and they regained the lead shortly before the finish line.
“He popped that last fence, and the other horse passed us,” Young said. “Thank God it’s a long stretch here.”
Finishing third in the Virginia Gold Cup, sponsored by Galen Capital Corp., was Patriot’s Path, Irvin Naylor’s 2009 timber champion, and Erin Go Bragh finished fourth.
Bubble Economy ran the Virginia Gold Cup’s four miles in 8:22 4/5.
South Monarch rules Winterthur Bowl
South Monarch collected his second victory of the 2010 National Steeplechase Association when he pulled away to a 5 1/4-length victory in the $17,500 Winterthur Bowl, feature race of the fifth annual Winterthur Races in suburban Wilmington, Del., on Sunday, May 2.
Trained by owner Sanna N. Hendriks, South Monarch had won the My Lady’s Manor in Monkton, Md., on April 10, and jockey Jody Petty put the eight-year-old Conquistador Cielo gelding on the lead immediately in the 3 1/4-mile Winterthur Bowl over 17 timber fences. Close behind him through the first 2 1/2 miles were Gather No Moss and Make Your Own.
On the final circuit of the course at the Winterthur Museum and Country Estate, Petty moved South Monarch to a daylight lead as the pace quickened over the last three fences. Champion jockey Paddy Young pressed Manown Kisor Jr.’s Gather No Moss for a final challenge at the last fence, but South Monarch had plenty in reserve and won going away. Gather No Moss finished second. South Monarch completed the Winterthur Bowl’s 3 1/4 miles in 7:09 2/5.
–Written by Don Clippinger