Riverdee Stable's Snowie Hill, on the outside with Jack Doyle, closed past KMSN Stable's Inverness to win Colonial Downs' $30,000 maiden hurdle for fillies and mares. (Coady Photography)
Jack Doyle rode the winners of both Colonial Downs steeplechase races on Saturday, closing well with Riverdee Stable’s Snowie Hill in the $30,000 maiden hurdle for fillies and mares before picking up the mount and a victory aboard Silverton Hill’s Bodes Well in the $20,000 ratings handicap.
Snowie Hill, a full sister to 2016 novice and female champion Get Ready Set Goes, wore down KMSN Stable’s Inverness in deep stretch to claim the maiden victory by a nose. Snowie Hill is trained by F. Hill Parker, who bred the four-year-old and recently transferred her to the Riverdee Stable racing partnership.
Inverness, trained by Keri Brion, made a strong move on Colonial’s final turn, grabbed the lead early in the stretch, led by two lengths over the last fence, and lost on the head bob in a courageous effort under Michael Mitchell.
Beverly R. Steinman’s homebred Paris Lady finished third, six lengths behind Inverness, in a field of 10. Sent off at 6.40-to-1, Snowie Hill paid $14.80 to win after running the 2¼-mile distance in 4:13.26 on firm turf.
Owner-trainer Jonathan Sheppard’s Sweeter Surprise fell at the last fence with Thomas Garner, who was to ride Bodes Well in the Virginia track’s second steeplechase race of the evening.
Doyle had no mount in the jump-racing nightcap, and trainer Leslie Young gave him the call when Garner was unable to ride.
Doyle maintained Bodes Well in a close-up position as first Steinman’s Shamsaan and then Morning Star Farm’s Shoreline set the pace. As they tired, Bodes Well, Taking The Lead Stable’s Lead Investor, and Irv Naylor’s Av A Word took over, with Bodes Well grabbing the lead at the last fence.
Sensing that he had plenty of horse beneath him, Doyle made a quick check under his right arm to be certain that no one was closing on him and gave Bodes Well a hand-ride to the finish line. Both of Doyle’s winners went off at 6.40-to-1, and Bodes Well also paid $14.80 after running the 2¼ miles in 4:02.15.
Young picked up her second ratings handicap victory of the five-week Colonial Downs meet after Sharon Sheppard’s Moorland won on Aug. 10 with Garner in the saddle.