Irv Naylor’s Ebanour began his ascent to the top ranks of timber racing with a dramatic victory in the 2015 New Jersey Hunt Cup, heads a field of seven for this year’s edition of the 3 1/4-mile race over post-and-rail fences on Saturday.
The $50,000 New Jersey Hunt Cup will be one of five stakes races on the seven-race Far Hills program, which offers a race-meet record of $800,000 in purses. First post time is 1 p.m.
Trained by Cyril Murphy, Ebanour was a contender for the timber championship with victories in the My Lady’s Manor, Virginia Gold Cup, and Pennsylvania Hunt Cup.
He’s in the hunt again this year with a repeat win in the Virginia Gold Cup and a second in the Radnor Hunt Cup as a result of a disqualification from the victory. The Irish-bred most recently finished sixth in Shawan Downs’ Legacy Chase on Sept. 23. Gus Dahl, his regular jockey, will ride.
Naylor also will be represented by Kathy Neilson-trained Super Saturday, who finished fourth in the Genesee Valley Hunt Cup last week after narrowly avoiding a mishap. Gerard Galligan has the mount.
Jack Fisher, who is running away with the 2017 trainer title by both wins and purses, entered Straight to It, owned by Sheila J. Williams and Northwood Stables. He’s also coming back on one week’s rest after finishing third in Virginia Fall’s National Sporting Library and Museum Cup. Sean McDermott has the mount.
Here is the field for the $50,000 New Jersey Hunt Cup in post-position order.
Ebanour (Ire). 2007 ch. g., Indian Ridge—Ebadilya, by Sadler’s Wells. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Cyril Murphy. Jockey: Gus Dahl. Breeders: Aga Khan’s Studs (Ire). 2017 record: 3-1-1-0-, $66,150. 2016 record: 4-3-0-0, $78,000. 2015 record: 2-1-1-0, $31,800. Kicked off 2017 campaign with repeat win in Virginia Gold Cup, then was disqualified to second from win in Radnor Hunt Cup and finished sixth in Shawan Downs’ Legacy Chase to open fall season. Also won 2016 My Lady’s Manor and Pennsylvania Hunt Cup. Won 2015 New Jersey Hunt Cup.
Certain Swagger. 2009 b. g., Arch—Comedy, by Theatrical (Ire). Owner: Jeremy Batoff. Trainer: William Dowling. Jockey: Jack Doyle. Breeders: Claiborne Farm and Arlene Dilschneider. (Ky.) 2016 record: 4-0-1-2, $9,000. 2015 record: 6-1-0-1, $17,000. 2014 record: 5-0-0-2, $27,200. Finished ninth in 2016 My Lady’s Manor, then was third in Middleburg Spring’s Alfred M. Hunt steeplechase, second in Winterthur Bowl. Ended 2015 season with seventh in International Gold Cup after being pulled up a week earlier in New Jersey Hunt Cup. Scored 45-length victory in Queen’s Cup timber allowance. Made successful transition to timber racing in 2014 and won timber allowance at International Gold Cup meet.
Enuff Alex. 2012 b. g., Afleet Alex—Justenufftime, by Giant’s Causeway. Owner: Bonnie Rye Stable. Trainer: Julie Gomena. Jockey: Kieran Norris. Breeder: Mt. Brilliant Farm (Ky.) 2017 record: 2-0-1-1, $4,200. 2016 record: 2-0-0-0, $750. Finished good second in 2017 Shawan Downs maiden timber race after third at Willowdale.
Super Saturday. 2009 gr. or ro. g., Any Given Saturday—Lady Aloma, by Cozzene. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Kathy Neilson. Jockey: Gerard Galligan. Breeder: Walton Breeders (Ky.) 2017 record: 4-0-0-0, $4,400. 2016 record: 5-0-1-0, $4,550. 2015 record: 4-1-1-0, $19,800. 2014 record: 5-1-0-1, $13,000. Finished fourth in 2017 Genesee Valley Hunt Cup after near mishap. Finished fourth in the 2017 Grand National, then fell at fourth fence of Maryland Hunt Cup and was fifth in Willowdale Steeplechase.
Straight to It. 2006 ch. g., Giant’s Causeway—Helsinka (Fr), by Pennekamp. Owners: Sheila J. Williams and Northwoods Stable. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Sean McDermott. Breeder: Thierry Grandsir (Ky.). 2017 record: 2-0-0-1, $5,250. 2016 record: 4-1-1-1, $30,900. 2015 record: 4-1-1-1, $36,600. Began 2017 campaign with fourth in Shawan’s Legacy Chase, then was third in Virginia Fall’s National Sporting Library and Museum Cup. Won 2016 Radnor Hunt Cup after fourth in Virginia Gold Cup, then was third in Shawan’s Legacy Chase. Won Virginia Fall’s 2015 National Sporting Library & Museum Cup by seven lengths. Disqualified from victory in 2015 Radnor Hunt Cup. Won the 2012 New Jersey Hunt Cup at Far Hills.
De Chera. 2006 ch. g., Deputy Commander—Torchera, by Pirate’s Bounty. Owner-Trainer: H. Bruce Fenwick. Jockey: Sean McDermott. Breeder: Hidden Point Farm (Fla.). 2017 record: 5-0-2-0, $7,650. 2016 record: 2-0-0-0, $750. Finished fifth in 2017 Shawan Downs maiden timber after sixth in Fair Hill timber allowance and second in Willowdale maiden timber. Finished second in the Grand National’s 2017 Benjamin H. Murray Memorial amateur allowance race before early fall in Maryland Hunt Cup. Finished fourth in a 2016 Virginia Fall maiden timber race and then fell in a Pennsylvania Hunt Cup maiden timber.
Where’s the Beef. 2008 gr. or ro. g., Rockport Harbor—Clair de Lune, by Regal Classic. Owner: Welcome Here Farm. Trainer: Ivan Dowling. Jockey: Mark Beecher. Breeder: Broodmares Anonymous Partners (Ky.). 2017 record: 3-1-1-0, $123,450. Set all the pace to win 2017 Shawan Downs maiden in third run over timber. Finished fourth in the 2015 Carolina Cup and missed the 2016 season.