Irv Naylor’s Decoy Daddy, defying age and all comers, turned back Spy in the Sky to win his fourth edition of the $45,000 Noel Laing Handicap at the Montpelier Hunt Races on Saturday.
Trained by Cyril Murphy and ridden by Carol-Ann Sloan, 12-year-old Decoy Daddy won by 1 1/2 lengths to run his 2014 record to a perfect three for three. He previously had won the $50,000 Temple Gwathmey (Gr. 3) at the Middleburg Spring Races and the $50,000 National Hunt Cup (Gr. 3) at the Radnor Hunt Races, both for the consecutive year.
The 2014 edition of the 2 1/2-mile Noel Laing maintained Decoy Daddy’s unprecedented mastery of Montpelier’s unique brush course at the central Virginia landmark home of James and Dolly Madison. He won the race in 2010 and 2011, finished second in 2012, and won again in 2013 before his fourth win on Saturday.
Fog Island finished third, Inti was fourth, and Saluda Sam finished fifth. Irish-bred Decoy Daddy ran the Noel Laing distance in 5:10.20 on firm turf.