Armata Stables’ Cornhusker and Irv Naylor’s Super Saturday will resume their brief rivalry on Sunday in the $25,000 Winterthur Bowl, the featured open timber race at the Winterthur Races in Delaware. First post time is 2 p.m.
Cornhusker and Super Saturday most recently hooked up in the Middleburg Hunt Cup in Virginia on April 18, and British-bred Cornhusker came out on top with a 2 3/4-length victory over Super Saturday.
Formerly a hurdler, Cornhusker made a successful transition to timber racing last year and won the $50,000 Mason Houghland Memorial timber stakes at the Iroquois Steeplechase. Trainer Alicia Murphy named top timber jockey Mark Beecher to ride Cornhusker in the 3 1/4-mile Winterthur Bowl.
Super Saturday kicked off the 2015 season with a victory in the Carolina Cup’s timber allowance race before mounting a modest rally to take second money in the Middleburg Hunt Cup. Jacob Roberts again will be in the saddle for trainer Kathy Neilson.
Returning to the Winterthur course is Welcome Here Farm’s Be Great, who won a maiden timber race at last year’s meet. Trainer Todd McKenna named Annie Yeager to ride the eight-year-old Gulch gelding.
Taking another shot at the Winterthur Bowl’s top prize is Rosbrian Farm’s More Fascination, who finished third last year. Martin Rohan will ride for trainer Tara Elmore.
Here is the field for the $25,000 Winterthur Bowl:
Peace Fire. 2007 b. g., Peace Rules–Miss Evans, by Nijinsky II. Owner: Northwoods Stable. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Connor Hankin. Breeder: Briggs-Cromartie (Fla.) 2015 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2014 record: 2-0-0-0, $800. Jumped poorly in 2015 My Lady’s Manor and was pulled up. Began 2014 season with fifth in Middleburg Hunt Cup, then was pulled up in Iroquois’ Mason Houghland Memorial. Won 2013 Winterthur Bowl.
Be Great. 2007 b. g., Gulch—Classic Ingrid, by Regal Classic. Owner: Welcome Here Farm. Trainer: Todd McKenna. Jockey: Annie Yeager. Breeder: Equivine Farm (Pa.) 2014 record: 2-1-0-0, $9,000. Won a 2014 Winterthur maiden timber race by a half-length after losing rider in maiden timber race at My Lady’s Manor.
Super Saturday. 2009 gr. or ro. g., Any Given Saturday—Lady Aloma, by Cozzene. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Kathy Neilson. Jockey: Jacob Roberts. Breeder: Walton Breeders (Ky.) 2015 record: 2-1-1-0, $17,400. 2014 record: 5-1-0-1, $13,000. Started 2015 with 2 1/4-length victory in Carolina Cup’s allowance timber race, then was second in Middleburg Hunt Cup. Broke through for a seven-length victory in a Shawan Downs maiden timber race, then was fourth in New Jersey Hunt Cup.
Cornhusker (GB). 2007 b. g., Dynaformer–Nebraska Tornado, by Storm Cat. Owner: Armata Stables. Trainer: Alicia Murphy. Jockey: Mark Beecher. Breeder: Juddmonte Farms (GB). 2015 record: 2-1-0-0, $18,900. 2014 record: 5-2-1-0, $50,300. Won 2015 Middleburg Hunt Cup after sixth-place finish in My Lady’s Manor. Made successful transition to timber racing in 2014 and won Iroquois Steeplechase’s $50,000 Mason Houghland Memorial. Ended 2014 season with second in Pennsylvania Hunt Cup.
More Fascination. 2003 b. g., Dynaformer–Desiray, by Deputy Minister. Owner: Rosbrian Farm. Trainer: Tara Elmore. Jockey: Martin Rohan. Breeders: Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Moss (Ky.). 2015 record: 1-0-0-1, $1,000. 2014 record: 2-0-0-1, $3,200. Finished third in 2015 John D. Schapiro Memorial amateur apprentice timber race at My Lady’s Manor. Finished third in 2014 Winterthur Bowl after fifth in the Grand National.
Brands Hatch. 2001 dk. b. or br. g., A.P. Indy–Watch Out, by Mr. Prospector. Owner: Gerry L. Brewster. Trainer: Blythe Miller Davies. Jockey: Adair Bonsal Stifel. Breeders: Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds, Pacelco S.A., and Chelston Ireland (Ky.) 2015 record: 2-0-0-0, $500. 2014 record: 2-0-0-0, $0. Lost rider at third fence of 2015 Maryland Hunt Cup after finishing fourth in Grand National’s Western Run Plate. Lost rider at the ninth fence of the 2014 Maryland Hunt Cup after going off course in Grand National’s Western Run Plate amateur apprentice timber race.