Bon Nouvel Chasers’ Cocodimama launched his challenge on the final turn and fought past Murphys Covert to win the $25,000 Block House optional allowance hurdle by a neck at Saturday’s 69th annual Block House Races in Tryon, N.C.
Thomas E. Nugent’s Murphys Covert held second over Dr. John Griggs’ G G Gal. Early pacesetter Ryvit finished fourth, and Bill Pape’s El Season was fifth.
Trained by Julie Gomena and ridden by Mark Watts, Cocodimama ran the Block House’s 2 3/8 miles in 4:30 flat on firm turf. In his previous start, Cocodimama had tired after setting the early pace in a Middleburg Spring optional allowance hurdle and finished eighth in his 2015 debut.