Clarke Ohrstrom’s Kisser N Run, the National Steeplechase Association’s champion female in 2013, will take on a talented group of challengers in Saturday’s $50,000 Margaret Currey Henley at the 74th annual Iroquois Steeplechase at Percy Warner Park.
Kisser N Run opened her 2015 campaign with a fifth-place finish in Middleburg Spring’s Temple Gwathmey (Gr. 3) against male competitors on April 18. Fourth in last year’s Henley, she won the Georgia Cup and was disqualified from the top spot in the Peapack Stakes at Far Hills, N.J., for interference at the last fence. Trainer Richard Valentine named Robbie Walsh to ride.
Trained by Jazz Napravnik, Jennifer Pitts’ Bau Bai Gold won an optional allowance hurdle against males at the season-opening Aiken Spring Steeplechase on March 21 and lost her rider in the Stoneybrook Steeplechase’s Sandhills Cup two weeks later. Mark Watts has the mount.
Irv Naylor’s American Ladie is returning to the races after winning her first two U.S. starts last year. She won a conditioned claiming hurdle at the Willowdale Steeplechase to qualify for Fair Hill’s Valentine Memorial starter stakes, which she won by a half-length. The British-bred mare is trained by Cyril Murphy and will be ridden by Carol-Ann Sloan.
Here is the field for the $50,000 Margaret Currey Henley for fillies and mares in alphabetical order.
American Ladie (GB). 2006 b. m., Monashee Mountain—Dounine (GB), by Kaldoun (Fr). Owner: Irv Naylor. Trainer: Cyril Murphy. Jockey: Carol-Ann Sloan. Breeder: Edy Srl (GB). 2015 record: No starts. 2014 NSA record: 2-2-0-0, $27,000. Unbeaten in U.S. after two wins in 2014. Won a Willowdale claiming hurdle to qualify for Fair Hill’s Valentine Memorial starter stakes, in which she defeated male competitors. Had two wins in England in 2011 before long period on the sidelines.
Bau Bai Gold. 2010 dk. b. or br. m., Sightseeing—Lynx of Gold, by Forest Wildcat. Owner: Jennifer H. Pitts. Trainer: Jazz Napravnik. Jockey: Mark Watts. Breeder: Damchu Stables (Pa.). 2015 record: 1-1-0-0, $15,000. 2014 record: 2-1-0-0, $15,000. Won the Charles S. Bird optional allowance hurdle at Aiken Spring to open 2015 season, then lost rider in Stoneybrook’s Sandhills Cup. In first start over fences, won a 2014 Foxfield Fall maiden hurdle for fillies and mares by 13 1/4 lengths and then finished fifth in Far Hills’ Peapack Stakes.
Fall Colors. 2010 ch. m., Northern Spur (Ire), Leaves of Autumn, by Expelled. Owner: Bruce Smart Jr. Trainer: Jimmy Day. Jockey: Brendan Brooks. Breeders: Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Smart (Va.). 2015 record: 1-1-0-0, $9,000. 2014 NSA record: 2-0-0-0, $0. Began 2015 season with 4 3/4-length victory in Foxfield Spring maiden claiming hurdle. Was unplaced in two 2014 starts over fences.
Ginobi. 2009 b. m., Go for Gin–Glittering Marie, by Marine Brass. Owner; Smallwood Stable. Trainer: Nancy Ruch. Jockey: Bernie Dalton. Breeder: Bonita Farm (Md.). 2015 record: 2-1-1-0, $15,600. 2014 record: No starts. Set all the pace in a Queen’s Cup maiden claiming hurdle and won by 2 1/4 lengths. Faded late to finish second in a Carolina Cup maiden hurdle for fillies and mares.
Kisser N Run. 2008 b. m., Pleasant Tap—Firm Kiss, by Atticus. Owner: Clarke Ohrstrom. Trainer: Richard Valentine. Jockey: Robbie Walsh. Breeders: Charles Arlington and Mike Mareina (Fla.). 2015 record: 1-0-0-0, $2,000. 2014 record: 4-1-2-0, $47,500. Pressed early pace in 2015 Temple Gwathmey (Gr. 3) and finished fifth. Disqualified from win in Far Hills’ 2014 Peapack Stakes, a race she had won the previous two years at Far Hills, N.J. Finished second in Saratoga’s Mrs. Ogden Phipps. Never found her best stride in Iroquois Steeplechase’s Margaret Currey Henley Stakes and finished a distant fourth. Opened 2014 with 6 1/4-length victory in $30,000 Georgia Cup on April 19. Claimed the 2013 Life’s Illusion Filly and Mare Champion award with late-season wins in Peapack and the Steeplechase at Callaway’s Crown Royal.
Outlaw Cody Z. 2008 ch. m., Ten Most Wanted, Ciel Cody, by Sky Classic. Owner: Stephany W.S. Harper. Trainer: Alicia Murphy. Jockey: Kieran Norris. Breeder: Cedar Ridge Farm (N.Y.) 2015 record: 1-1-0-0, $12,000. 2014 record: No starts. In jump-racing debut, won a Foxfield Spring maiden hurdle on April 25. Had claiming wins on the flat in 2012 and 2013 but missed 2014 season.
Sally Brown. 2010 dk. b. or br. m., Pleasant Tap—My Papoose, by Northern Baby. Owner: Bill Pape. Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard. Jockey: Paddy Young. Breeders: Bill Pape and Jonathan Sheppard (Pa.). 2015 NSA record: No starts. Maiden on flat making transition to jump racing. Best finish was a fourth in a Parx Racing maiden special weight limited to fillies and mares. Prepared for maiden run over fences with second in Queen’s Cup training flat race.
Secret Reward. 2009 ch. m., Eurosilver–Vente, by Dynaformer. Owner: Beverly R. Steinman. Trainer: Doug Fout. Jockey: Gerard Galligan. Breeder: Beverly R. Steinman (Ky.) 2015 record: 1-0-1-0, $3,600. 2014 record: 3-0-1-0, $6,600. In first 2015 start, finished second in an open maiden hurdle at Foxfield Spring. Finished second in 2014 Fair Hill maiden hurdle and finished fifth in Saratoga’s Mrs. Ogden Phipps Stakes.