Holston Hall’s Hot Rize begins the defense of his 2014 National Steeplechase Association timber championship in the $30,000 Middleburg Hunt Cup at Glenwood Park on Saturday. First post time is 1 p.m. for the eight-race program, which also features the $50,000 Temple Gwathmey (Gr. 3) over National Fences.
Trainer Russell Haynes named Kieran Norris to ride Hot Rize. Back-to-back victories in the Virginia Gold Cup and New Jersey Hunt Cup propelled Hot Rize to the timber title, and he closed out the season with a third-place finish in the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup.
Looking for his second win of the year will be Irv Naylor’s Super Saturday, who was superior in the Carolina Cup’s allowance timber race on March 28. Trainer Kathy Neilson named Jacob Roberts to a return engagement on the Any Given Saturday gelding.
Jack Fisher, champion trainer for the third straight year in 2014, entered the trio of Brave Prospect, Rugged Rascal, and Three Hundred. In his timber debut in the New Jersey Hunt Cup, Woodslane Farm’s Brave Prospect fell at the first fence. Sean McDermott has the mount.
Darren Nagle will be aboard Arcadia Stable’s Three Hundred, who lost his rider in a division of the John Rush Streettt maiden timber race at My Lady’s Manor on April 11. Owned by the trainer’s Kingfisher Farm, Rugged Rascal was pulled up in the 2014 Iroquois Steeplechase’s Mason Houghland Memorial. Four-time champion jockey Paddy Young has the mount.
Here is the field for the $30,000, 3 1/4-mile Middleburg Hunt Cup.
Brave Prospect. 2007 b. g., Purge—Issaqueena, by Mr. Prospector. Owner: Woodslane Farm. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Breeder: Stonerside Stable (Ky.) 2014 record: No starts. Fell at the first fence of the 2013 New Jersey Hunt Cup, his inaugural run over timber. Won a 2013 starter allowance over hurdles at the Virginia Gold Cup and finished second in Fair Hill’s Valentine Memorial starter stakes. Finished fifth in the 2013 A.P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1) before being pulled up in New York Turf Writers (Gr. 1).
Cornhusker (GB). 2007 b. g., Dynaformer–Nebraska Tornado, by Storm Cat. Owner: Armata Stables. Trainer: Alicia Murphy. Jockey: Open. Breeder: Juddmonte Farms (GB). 2015 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2014 record: 5-2-1-0, $50,300. Opened 2015 season with seventh in My Lady’s Manor. Made successful transition to timber racing in 2014 and won Iroquois Steeplechase’s $50,000 Mason Houghland Memorial after score in Middleburg Hunt Cup open timber race. Lost rider in Virginia Fall’s National Sporting Library & Museum Cup and finished fifth in New Jersey Hunt Cup. Ended 2014 season with second in Pennsylvania Hunt Cup.
Rugged Rascal. 2007 dk. B. or br. g., Closing Argument—Merci, by Williamstown. Owner: Kingfisher Farm. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Paddy Young. Breeder: Sally J. Andersen (Fla.). 2014 record: 1-0-0, $0. Pulled up at the 12th fence in the Mason Houghland Memorial at the 2014 Iroquois Steeplechase. Maiden on flat and over fences.
Super Saturday. 2009 gr. or ro. g., Any Given Saturday—Lady Aloma, by Cozzene. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Kathy Neilson. Jockey: Jacob Roberts. Breeder: Walton Breeders (Ky.) 2015 record: 1-1-0-0, $12,000. 2014 record: 5-1-0-1, $13,000. Started 2015 with 2 1/4-length victory in Carolina Cup’s allowance timber race. Broke through for a seven-length victory in a Shawan Downs maiden timber race, then was fourth in New Jersey Hunt Cup.
Hot Rize. 2004 dk. b. or br. g., Sultry Song—Donesia, by Desert Wine. Owner: Holston Hall. Trainer: Russell Haynes. Jockey: Kieran Norris. Breeder: Anne Haynes (Ky.) 2014 record: 4-2-0-1, $79,400. Clinched timber championship with half-length score in Far Hills’ New Jersey Hunt Cup on Oct. 18. Won the Virginia Gold Cup at odds of 10.70-1. Closed season with third in the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup.
Sol a Pino. 2005 b. g., Dynaformer—Kuda, by Strawberry Road (Aus). Owner-trainer: Nicki Valvo. Jockey: Garet W. Winants. Breeder: Haras Santa Maria de Araras (Ky.) 2014 record: No starts. In first start over fences, lost his rider in a 2013 Willowdale maiden timber race. Won his maiden victory on flat for $5,000 claiming tag at River Downs in 2012.
Three Hundred. 2008 b. g., Smart Strike—Touch of Greatness, by Hero’s Honor. Owner: Arcadia Stable. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Darren Nagle. Breeder: Jayeff B Stables (Ky.) 2015 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2014 record: 4-1-1-0, $12,500. Stumbled and lost his rider in first division of John Rush Streett maiden timber race at My Lady’s Manor in first timber start. Won maiden claimer over hurdles at 2014 Charleston Cup after second in Sport of Kings maiden hurdle at Steeplechase at Callaway.