Bruce Smart Jr.’s Orchestra Leader, who led the field under the finish line in Foxfield Spring’s Daniel Van Clief Memorial in April, will attempt to conduct another winning score in Foxfield Fall’s featured $25,000 optional allowance hurdle on Sunday.
First post time for the 38th annual Foxfield Fall Races is 1:30 p.m.
Trainer Jimmy Day had three victories at Saratoga Race Course, and Orchestra Leader contributed a second-place finish in an optional allowance hurdle on Aug. 19 after finishing fifth in Saratoga’s Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes.
Also coming out of the Van Clief Memorial is Betsy Mead’s homebred Forgotten Man, who finished third, and owner-trainer Randy Rouse’s Hishi Soar, the fourth finisher.
Two mares will bear watching in Sunday’s feature race. Jazz Napravnik will send out Jennifer Pitts’ Bau Bai Gold, who finished second in the Iroquois Steeplechase’s Margaret Currey Henley Stakes on May 9 and fell in a Saratoga optional allowance hurdle.
Stephany W.S. Harper’s Outlaw Cody Z won a Foxfield Spring allowance hurdle limited to fillies and mares for trainer Alicia Murphy
Here is the field for the featured $25,000 optional allowance hurdle:
Orchestra Leader. 2009 b. g., Van Nistelrooy—Magic of Life, by Seattle Slew. Owner: S. Bruce Smart Jr. Trainer: Jimmy Day. Jockey: Sean McDermott. Breeder: Strategy Bloodstock (Ky.) 2015 record: 5-1-3-0, $40,500. 2014 record: 6-1-0-2, $12,500. Finished second in Saratoga optional allowance hurdle on Aug. 19 after fifth in Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes. Opened 2015 season with win in Foxfield Spring’s Daniel Van Clief Memorial optional allowance race on April 25, then had second-place finishes in High Hope optional allowance hurdle at Lexington, Ky., and in Ratings Handicap at Parx Racing on July 14.
Scorpiancer (Ire). 2009 b. g., Scorpion (Ire)—Janebailey, By Silver Patriarch. Owner: Northwoods Stable. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Connor Hankin. Breeder: Mary O’Connor (Ire). 2015 NSA record: No jump starts. Made his U.S. debut with a fourth-place finish in a flat race for hurdlers at Suffolk Downs on Sept. 5. Lightly raced six-year-old won maiden over hurdles in January at Ludlow.
Forgotten Man. 2008 ch. g., Bowman’s Band—Hark the Sound (GB), by Robellino. Owner: Betsy Mead. Trainer: Doug Fout. Jockey: Kieran Norris. Breeder: Betsy B. Mead (Ky.) 2015 record: 2-1-0-1, $17,500. 2014 record: 5-0-1-1, $10,450. Won Stoneybrook’s Sandhills Cup optional allowance hurdle to kick off 2015 season, then was third in Foxfield Spring’s Daniel Van Clief Memorial optional allowance hurdle.
Hishi Soar. 2007 dk. b. or br. g., Theatrical (Ire)—Go On Baby, by With Approval. Owner-trainer: Randolph D. Rouse. Jockey: Brendan Brooks. Breeder: Kaleem Shah (Ky.) 2015 record: 1-0-0-0, $1,250. 2014 record: 2-1-0-0, $6,000. Finished fourth in Foxfield Spring’s Daniel Van Clief Memorial, his 2015 debut. Made history when he won Montpelier claiming hurdle and owner Randy Rouse became Thoroughbred racing’s oldest trainer to saddle a winner at age 97.
Bau Bai Gold. 2010 dk. b. or br. m., Sightseeing—Lynx of Gold, by Forest Wildcat. Owner: Jennifer H. Pitts. Trainer: Jazz Napravnik. Jockey: Willie McCarthy. Breeder: Damchu Stables (Pa.). 2015 NSA record: 4-1-1-0, $24,000. 2014 record: 2-1-0-0, $15,000. Most recently fell in Saratoga optional allowance hurdle on Aug. 13 after second in Margaret Currey Henley Stakes for fillies and mares at Iroquois Steeplechase on May 9. Won the Charles S. Bird optional allowance hurdle at Aiken Spring to open 2015 season, then lost rider in Stoneybrook’s Sandhills Cup. In first start over fences, won a 2014 Foxfield Fall maiden hurdle for fillies and mares by 13 1/4 lengths and then finished fifth in Far Hills’ Peapack Stakes.
Outlaw Cody Z. 2008 ch. m., Ten Most Wanted, Ciel Cody, by Sky Classic. Owner: Stephany W.S. Harper. Trainer: Alicia Murphy. Jockey: Kieran Norris. Breeder: Cedar Ridge Farm (N.Y.) 2015 record: 2-1-0-0, $15,000. 2014 record: No starts. Finished fifth in Iroquois’ Margaret Currey Henley on May 9. In jump-racing debut, won a Foxfield Spring maiden hurdle on April 25. Had claiming wins on the flat in 2012 and 2013 but missed 2014 season.
Gokokogo. 2009 dk. b. or br. g., Bernardini—Got Koko, by Signal Tap. Owner: Armata Stables. Trainer: Kathy Neilson. Jockey: Open. 2015 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2014 record: 8-1-1-1, $10,050. Rank in Radnor claiming hurdle and lost rider. Ended 2014 season with third in $10,000 claiming hurdle. Won $10,000 maiden claiming hurdle at the Block House Races in Tryon, N.C. Out of Texas-bred Grade 1 winner Got Koko.