Jack Fisher recorded two victories at Foxfield Fall. (Tod Marks photo)
Trainer Jack Fisher and jockey Sean McDermott, making up for lost time after a slow start to the 2018 National Steeplechase Association season, recorded two victories at Sunday’s Foxfield Fall meet in Charlottesville, Va.
They struck early, taking the first race, a $15,000 maiden claiming hurdle, with DASH Stable’s Barhanpour. Irv Naylor’s Av a Word was second, and Donna Rogers’ Tambourin finished third.
DASH Stable is the racing operation of Sheila Fisher, the trainer’s wife, and her father, Rufus Williams, who died Sept. 29. Barhanpour was claimed by trainer Ricky Hendriks for Rosbrian Farm.
Shut out in the second race, Fisher and McDermott teamed up again with Storm Team in Foxfield Fall’s third race, a $30,000 Sport of Kings maiden hurdle. Storm Team was close to the early pace, took over past the midpoint of the 2 3/16-mile race over National Fences, and won by 2 1/4 lengths over Zeppelin Ride. Brooklyn Speights finished third.
Storm Team, a four-year-old by the popular sire Candy Ride, is owned by Sheila Williams, Fisher’s mother-in-law, and Northwoods Stable. He ran the 2 3/16-mile distance in 4:27.80.
Gerard Galligan, best known as a jockey on the NSA circuit, acted as owner-trainer in sending out Mavourneen for a 3 3/4-length victory in a $20,000 maiden hurdle for fillies and mares. Naylor’s Always Summer finished second, and owner-trainer William Wofford’s Choklitcoverdonut took third.
Bethany Baumgardner rode Mavourneen to victory in 4:30.40 for 2 3/16 miles.
Fisher, champion trainer for the last five years, moved within one win of current leader Hendriks, who has 15 victories this season. Fisher also crept closer to Hendriks in the earnings table.