Irv Naylor’s Ebanour will be seeking his second straight win in the $35,000 Pennsylvania Hunt Cup on Sunday, and Where’s the Beef will be looking to complete a two-state sweep in the four-mile timber classic at Unionville.
First post time is 1:30 p.m. for the four-race program. The races will be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orjBHjq-WEE.
Raced by Pennsylvania-based Welcome Here Farm, Where’s the Beef stepped up in the New Jersey Hunt Cup on Oct. 21 and delivered a solid, 1 1/2-length victory at the Far Hills Races. Trained by Ivan Dowling, the Rockport Harbor gelding again will be ridden by Mark Beecher.
Ebanour will be attempting to atone for a dull effort in the New Jersey Hunt Cup, in which he never was a threat finished fifth. He remains one of the year’s leading timber horses by earnings after his victory in the Virginia Gold Cup on May 6. Trainer Cyril Murphy named Gus Dahl to ride.
Naylor also will be represented by Super Saturday, who finished second in the New Jersey Hunt Cup. Trained by Kathy Neilson, Super Saturday will be ridden by Darren Nagle, who continues atop the National Steeplechase Association jockey standings.
Sean McDermott, who trails Nagle by one win and leads the earnings table going into the next-to-last weekend of the NSA season, will be aboard Holston Hall’s Hot Rize. The 2014 timber champion finished third in that year’s Pennsylvania Hunt Cup for trainer Russell Haynes. In his most recent start, he was third to Ebanour in the Virginia Gold Cup.
Armata Stables’ Cornhusker, beaten a neck in the 2015 Pennsylvania Hunt Cup, most recently finished fifth in Virginia Fall’s National Sporting Library and Museum Cup on Oct. 14. Three-time winner of the Iroquois Steeplechase’s Mason Houghland Memorial, the British-bred Dynaformer gelding will be ridden by Kieran Norris.
Completing the field is Sumo Power, owned by Blythe Miller Davies and Charles Noell. Trained by Joe Davies, Sumo Power most recently finished second in the Genesee Valley Hunt Cup on Oct. 14.
Here is the field for the 83rd running of the four-mile Pennsylvania Hunt Cup.
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. Won 2017 New Jersey Hunt Cup after maiden win at Shawan Downs. Finished fourth in the 2015 Carolina Cup and missed the 2016 season.
Super Saturday. 2009 gr. or ro. g., Any Given Saturday—Lady Aloma, by Cozzene. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Kathy Neilson. Jockey: Darren Nagle. Breeder: Walton Breeders (Ky.) 2017 record: 5-0-1-0, $13,400. 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 second in 2017 New Jersey Hunt Cup after fourth in Genesee Valley Hunt Cup. Finished fourth in the 2017 Grand National, then fell at fourth fence of Maryland Hunt Cup and was fifth in Willowdale Steeplechase.
Hot Rize. 2004 dk. b. or br. g., Sultry Song—Donesia, by Desert Wine. Owner: Holston Hall. Trainer: Russell Haynes. Jockey: Sean McDermott. Breeder: Anne Haynes (Ky.) 2017 record: 2-0-0-2, $13,000. 2016 record: 1-0-0-0, $2,500. 2015 record: 5-0-0-0, $5,100. Opened 2017 campaign with third in Middleburg Hunt Cup, then was third in Virginia Gold Cup. Finished well-beaten fourth in 2016 Mason Houghland Memorial at Iroquois Steeplechase. Unplaced in five 2015 starts. Clinched 2014 timber championship with half-length score in Far Hills’ New Jersey Hunt Cup after winning that year’s Virginia Gold Cup at odds of 10.70-1.
Cornhusker (GB). 2007 b. g., Dynaformer–Nebraska Tornado, by Storm Cat. Owner: Armata Stables. Trainer: Alicia Murphy. Jockey: Kieran Norris. Breeder: Juddmonte Farms (GB). 2017 record: 5-2-2-0, $68,600. 2016 record: 2-0-0-0, $4,500. 2015 record: 4-2-0-0, $66,250. Finished second in Shawan’s 2017 Legacy Chase, then fifth in National Sporting Library and Museum Cup. Won 2017 Mason Houghland Memorial, his third win in the Iroquois timber stakes, after 2014 and 2015. Ran a confident race in the 2017 Middleburg Hunt Cup and won by 5 3/4 lengths, then finished second in the Winterthur Bowl. Finished fourth in 2016 International Gold Cup.
Sumo Power. 2006 dk. b. or br. g., Dynaformer—Connie’s Spirit, by Theatrical (Ire). Owners: Blythe Miller Davies and Charles Noell. Trainer: Joseph G. Davies. Jockey: Open. Breeder: Mercedes Stable (Ky.). 2017 record: 3-0-1-1, $6,900. 2016 record: 2-0-0-0, $750. 2015 record: 2-1-0-0, $7,250. 2014 record: 6-0-0-2, $4,700. Opened 2017 fall campaign with second in Genesee Valley Hunt Cup. Finished third in 2017 Willowdale timber allowance after ninth in Grand National’s Benjamin H. Murray Memorial. Finished fourth in 2016 John D. Schapiro Memorial amateur apprentice timber, then ninth in Grand National’s Western Run Plate. Had two wins over hurdles and won Western Run Plate at 2015 Grand National.
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: 4-1-1-0-, $68,150. 2016 record: 4-3-0-0, $78,000. 2015 record: 2-1-1-0, $31,800. Finished listless fifth in 2017 New Jersey Hunt Cup. 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.