A large and well-matched field will line up Tuesday, July 1, for a $30,000 allowance hurdle at Parx Racing in suburban Philadelphia. Also on the afternoon program are two divisions of a Sport of Kings maiden hurdle, with $25,000 purses in each heat.
Jack Fisher, currently the sport’s leading trainer after reigning as the 2012 champion and sharing the title last year, will saddle Sheila J. Williams’ Easy Reach for the 2 1/16-mile allowance race, which has been carded as the sixth race.
The Arch gelding most recently finished second in the Iroquois Steeplechase’s $35,000 Bright Hour Stakes on May 10. Winner of an Atlanta Steeplechase optional allowance on April 19, Easy Reach will be ridden by Jeff Murphy.
Trainer Leslie Young will send out William Riddle’s Absolum and Amy Taylor Rowe’s Mr. Universo. Absolum won a Middleburg Spring Races optional allowance but lost his rider early in Radnor Hunt Races’ National Hunt Cup (Gr. 3) on May 17. Mr. Universo, a maiden winner at Parx last year, will be making his first start since an unplaced finish in a Saratoga Race Course optional allowance hurdle last August.
The trainer’s husband, champion jockey Paddy Young, rides Absolum, and former champion jockey Danielle Hodson has the mount on Mr. Universo.
Willie McCarthy, currently leading the National Steeplechase Association’s jockey standings, returns aboard Bon Nouvel Chasers’ Cocodimama for trainer Julie Gomena. Winner of a Middleburg Spring maiden hurdle on April 19, the Johar gelding finished a distant fourth in Radnor’s Thompson Memorial allowance hurdle.
Trainer Kate Dalton will saddle her Cat Feathers, the 2012 filly-and-mare champion who has raced competitively over the last two seasons without a victory. The six-year-old Catienus mare finished third in the Carolina Cup for novices at Camden, S.C., on March 29 and then was fifth in the Atlanta optional allowance hurdle won by Easy Reach. Xavier Aizpuru will ride.
Petticoats Loose Farm’s Choral Society will look to stay in harmony after a maiden victory at Monmouth Park on June 13. Ross Geraghty, the 2012 champion jockey, has the mount for trainer Cyril Murphy.
Here is the field for the $30,000 allowance hurdle:
Choral Society. 2009 gr. or ro. g., Holy Bull—Star Singer, by Awesome Again. Owner: Petticoats Loose Farm. Trainer: Cyril Murphy. Jockey: Ross Geraghty. 2014 record: 2-1-0-1, $17,500. Scored a game victory in tough $25,000 Sport of Kings maiden hurdle at Monmouth Park on June 13 and now moves up to the next level.
Cat Feathers. 2008 dk. b. or br. f., Catienus—Mistress Hemming, by Quiet American. Owner-trainer: Kate Dalton. Jockey: Xavier Aizpuru. 2014 record: 2-0-0-1, $6,200. 2013 record: 6-0-2-1, $32,758. 2012 Life’s Illusion Filly and Mare champion. Finished third in Carolina Cup for novices in 2014 debut and then was fifth in an Atlanta Steeplechase optional allowance hurdle. Won 2012 Mrs. Ogden Phipps at Saratoga.
Easy Reach. 2006 dk. b. or br. g, Arch–Brig, by Two Punch. Owner: Sheila J. Williams. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Jeff Murphy. 2014 record: 3-1-2-0, $33,300. 2013 record: 6-2-1-0, $21,480. After second in Carolina Cup to open 2014 season, won Atlanta Steeplechase optional allowance hurdle and finished good second in Bright Hour Stakes at the Iroquois Steeplechase on May 10.
- 2008 dk. b. or br. g., Fantasticat—Zenon, by Hawkster. Owner: William E. Riddle. Trainer: Leslie Young: Jockey: Paddy Young. 2014 record: 2-1-0-0, $12,000. 2013 record: 5-1-1-1, $19,350. Won Middleburg Spring optional allowance hurdle on April 19, then lost his rider early in the National Hunt Cup (Gr. 3) at the Radnor Hunt Races on May 17.
Albany Road. 2007 ch. g., Mr. Greeley—Jane’s the Name, by Trempolino. Owner: The Elkstone Group. Trainer: Richard Valentine. Jockey: Robbie Walsh. 2014 record: 2-0-0-0, $3,200. 2013 NSA record: 6-1-1-1, $31,618. Started 2014 with two fifth-place finishes, in the Carolina Cup for novices on March 29 and the Thompson Memorial allowance hurdle at the Radnor Hunt Races on May 17. Won maiden hurdle at Fair Hill Races in May 2013 before good second in Saratoga optional allowance.
- 2009 dk. b. or br. g., Johar—Kschessinka, by Nureyev. Owner: Bon Nouvel Chasers. Trainer: Julie Gomena. Jockey: Willie McCarthy. 2014 record: 3-1-1-0, $20,100. Finished distant fourth in Thompson Memorial allowance hurdle at the Radnor Hunt Races on May 17. Won Sport of Kings maiden hurdle at Middleburg Spring Races on April 19 after second at Stoneybrook Steeplechase on April 5.
Arrow’s Quest. 2007 b. g., War Chant—Split the Arrow, by Smart Strike. Owner: Michael A. Smith. Trainer: Neil R. Morris. Jockey: Jacob Roberts. 2014 record: 3-0-0-2, $5,900. 2013 record: 7-1-1-0, $14,250. Finished third in Radnor Hunt Races’ Thompson Memorial allowance hurdle after sixth in Virginia Gold Cup starter allowance hurdle. Opened 2014 season with a third in Middleburg Spring optional allowance hurdle.
Mr. Universo (Brz). 2004 dk. b. or br. g., Roi Normand—Trephine, by Trempolino. Owner: Amy Taylor Rowe. Trainer: Leslie Young. Jockey: Danielle Hodsdon. 2014 record: 0-0-0, $0. 2013 record: 4-1-1-0, $18,550. Making first start since finishing sixth in a Saratoga optional allowance hurdle last August. Won his maiden victory at Parx in June 2013.
- 2009 dk. b. or br. g., Bernardini—Got Koko, by Signal Tap. Owner: Armata Stable. Trainer: Kathy Neilson. Jockey: Gerard Galligan. 2014 record: 4-1-1-0, $8,550. 2013 record: 6-0-1-0, $1,650. Won $10,000 maiden claiming hurdle at the Block House Races in Tryon, N.C., on May 3 and then was fourth in a $15,000 claiming hurdle at the Willowdale Steeplechase in Kennett Square, Pa., on May 11. Out of Texas-bred Grade 1 winner Got Koko.