Arrakis and Jarmarjo, respective winners of the Charleston Cup in 2012 and 2013, will return to Stono Ferry Race Course on Sunday for a shot at a repeat victory in the featured $25,000 optional allowance hurdle. First post time is 1 p.m.
Both Over Creek Stables’ Arrakis and Irv Naylor’s Jamarjo had extended stays on the sidelines after their Charleston Cup wins. Arrakis returned to finish second in Foxfield Spring’s Daniel Van Clief Memorial optional allowance and most recently finished fourth in the David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial (Gr. 3) at the International Gold Cup on Oct. 24. Trainer Julie Gomena named Darren Nagle to ride.
Jamarjo has not started over fences since his 2013 victory in the Charleston Cup and most recently won a training flat race at the Aiken Fall Steeplechase on Oct. 31. Leading jockey Paddy Young was named to ride by his wife, trainer Leslie Young.
Naylor, the year’s leading owner by far, also was represented in the entries by Jack Frost, who is trained by Cyril Murphy. Bred by Queen Elizabeth II, Jack Frost finished third in the Ferguson. Ross Geraghty will ride.
Trainer Doug Fout will send out Betsy Mead’s homebred Forgotten Man, who won Foxfield Fall’s featured optional allowance hurdle. Kieran Norris has the call.
Jimmy Day will saddle will saddle S. Bruce Smart Jr.’s Orchestra Leader, the Van Clief winner who finished second to Forgotten Man at Foxfield Fall. Sean McDermott will ride.
Completing the field is owner-trainer Allison Fullmer’s Odi et Amo, who would be making his first start of 2015.
Here is the field for the $25,000 Charleston Cup optional allowance hurdle.
Forgotten Man. 2008 ch. g., Bowman’s Band—Hark the Sound (GB), by Robellino. Owner: Betsy Mead. Trainer: Doug Fout. Jockey: Kieran Norris. Breeder: Betsy B. Mead (Ky.) 2015 record: 6-2-0-1, $35,750. 2014 record: 5-0-1-1, $10,450. Won Foxfield Fall’s featured optional allowance hurdle before seventh-place finish in Far Hills Ratings Handicap. Won Stoneybrook’s Sandhills Cup optional allowance hurdle to kick off 2015 season, then was third in Foxfield Spring’s Daniel Van Clief Memorial optional allowance hurdle.
Arrakis. 2007 dk. b. or br. g., Royal Academy—Quinn, by Theatrical (Ire). Owner: Over Creek Farm. Trainer: Julie Gomena. Jockey: Darren Nagle. Breeder: Iron County Farms (Ky.). 2015 record: 7-0-2-1, $14,350. 2014 record: No starts. Finished fourth in International Gold Cup’s David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial (Gr. 3) on Oct. 24. Second in Virginia Fall Ratings Handicap after refusing to start in Monmouth allowance hurdle. Returned to the races after missing 2014 season and finished third in Aiken Spring optional allowance hurdle, then was second in Foxfield Spring’s Daniel Van Clief optional allowance hurdle. Won 2012 Charleston Cup optional allowance hurdle.
Jamarjo (Ire). 2007 b. g., Marju—Athlumney Lady, by Lycius. Owner; Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Leslie Young. Jockey: Paddy Young. Breeder: Frank Dunne (Ire). 2015 record: 0-0-0-0, $0. 2014 record: No starts. Returning to the races after winning the 2013 Charleston Cup. Won an Aiken Fall training flat race on Oct. 31.
Orchestra Leader. 2009 b. g., Van Nistelrooy—Magic of Life, by Seattle Slew. Owner: S. Bruce Smart Jr. Trainer: Jimmy Day. Jockey: Sean McDermott. Breeder: Strategy Bloodstock (Ky.) 2015 record: 6-1-4-0, $45,000. 2014 record: 6-1-0-2, $12,500. Finished second in Foxfield Fall’s featured optional allowance hurdle. Finished second in Saratoga optional allowance hurdle after fifth in Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes. Opened 2015 season with win in Foxfield Spring’s Daniel Van Clief Memorial optional allowance race on April 25, then had second-place finishes in High Hope optional allowance hurdle at Lexington, Ky., and in Ratings Handicap at Parx Racing on July 14.
Odi et Amo. 2208 b. g., Inamorato—Marisha, by Arts and Letters. Owner: Athene Noctura Stables. Trainer: Allison B. Fullmer. Jockey: Open. Breeder: James C. Bickett (Ky.). 2015 record: No starts. 2014 record: 3-2-1-0, $19,300. 2013 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. Easily won featured starter handicap at High Hope in Lexington, Ky., in May 2014. Won maiden claimer at 2014 Stoneybrook Steeplechase in North Carolina and then finished second to Orchestra Leader in a Tryon claimer. Name translates: I hate and I love, from the first line of a poem by the Latin poet Catullus.
Jack Frost. 2010 ch. g., Midnight Legend—Bella Macrae, by Bustino. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Cyril Murphy. Jockey: Ross Geraghty. Breeder: The Queen (GB). 2015 NSA record: 1-0-1-0, $18,000. In first U.S. start after purchase from Nicky Henderson’s yard, finished second in Far Hills’ Foxbrook Champion Hurdle on Oct. 17. In final start for Queen Elizabeth II, won a novice hurdle at Ffos Las in April. Won his first three starts in 2014.