Dominant leading trainer Jack Fisher and record-setting owner Irv Naylor will field contenders for Saturday’s $30,000 Middleburg Hunt Cup, the supporting feature timber stakes race of the 95th annual Middleburg Spring Races at Glenwood Park.
First post time is 1 p.m. for an action-packed seven-race program that also includes the $50,000 Temple Gwathmey (Gr. 3).
Fisher plays the strongest hand for the 3 1/4-mile Middleburg Hunt Cup with Sheila Williams’ Straight to It and Two’s Company, owned by Bruton Street-US. Straight to It won last fall’s 2015 National Sporting Library & Museum Cup on the Glenwood course and will be ridden by Connor Hankin.
Two’s Company, who already sports a 2016 win on his record after taking a Carolina Cup timber allowance on April 2, will be ridden by Sean McDermott.
Naylor’s Personal Brew, second in the Carolina Cup race, is trained by Billy Meister and will be ridden by Willie McCarthy.
Virginia-based trainer Richard Valentine will saddle Magalen O. Bryant’s Dakota Slew, winner of the 2014 National Sporting Library & Museum Cup. Darren Nagle has the mount.
Owner-trainer Nikki Valvo entered Sol a Pino, third in last year’s Middleburg Hunt Cup. Bernie Dalton will ride.
Here is the field for the $30,000 Middleburg Hunt Cup.
Two’s Company (Ire). 2009 b. g., Soviet Star—Gaye Lady, by Pistolet Bleu (Ire). Owner: Bruton Street-U.S. Trainer Jack Fisher. Jockey: Sean McDermott. Breeders: M. W. and Mrs. M. Doran (Ire). 2016 record: 1-1-0-0, $12,000. 2015 record: 4-1-1-0, $12,600. 6-1 odds. Won Carolina Cup’s C. P. and Edith Wills DuBose Cup timber allowance race to start 2016 season. Won his first career start in John Rush Streett division at 2015 My Lady’s Manor and fell at last of Queen’s Cup timber allowance.
Straight to It. 2006 ch. g., Giant’s Causeway—Helsinka (Fr), by Pennekamp. Owner: Sheila J. Williams. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Connor Hankin. Breeder: Thierry Grandsir (Ky.). 2015 record: 4-1-1-1, $36,600. 2014 record: 7-1-0-3, $33,000. 8-5 odds. Won 2015 Virginia Fall’s National Sporting Library & Museum Cup by seven lengths after disqualification from victory to second in Radnor Hunt Cup. Finished fifth in 2015 My Lady’s Manor, then third in Virginia Gold Cup. Won the 2012 New Jersey Hunt Cup.
Personal Brew. 2006 dk. b. or br. g., Milwaukee Brew—Sergeant Mimi, by Personal Flag. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: William Meister. Jockey: Willie McCarthy. Breeders: Tammy Barnes and John Ubelhor, D.V.M. (Ky.) 2016 record: 1-0-1-0, $3,600. 2015 record: 4-1-0-0, $9,000. 2014 record: No starts. 6-1 odds. Finished second in 2016 Carolina Cup’s C. P. and Edith Wills DuBose Cup. Fell in 2015 Genesee Valley Hunt Cup after setting early pace. Won Foxfield Spring maiden timber after unplaced finish in John Rush Streett division at My Lady’s Manor. Lost rider in Winterthur timber allowance.
Sol a Pino. 2005 b. g., Dynaformer—Kuda, by Strawberry Road (Aus). Owner-trainer: Nicki Valvo. Jockey: Bernie Dalton. Breeder: Haras Santa Maria de Araras (Ky.) 2015 NSA record: 2-0-0-1, $3,750. 2014 record: No starts. 10-1 odds. Finished third in Middleburg Hunt Cup and then was fourth in a Willowdale maiden timber on May 10.
Dakota Slew. 2007 dk. b. or br. g., Slew City Slew—Klearlee Kiera, by Allen’s Prospect. Owner: Magalen O. Bryant. Trainer: Richard Valentine. Jockey: Darren Nagle. Breeder: Larry Curtis (Ky.) 2015 record: 2-0-1-0, $17,700. 2014 record: 4-1-1-0, $32,600. 2-1 odds. Finished second in Virginia Gold Cup after fourth in My Lady’s Manor. Won 2014 National Sporting Library & Museum Cup at Virginia Fall before second in International Gold Cup and fifth in Colonial Cup’s Springdale open timber race.