Sheila Williams’ and Northwoods Stables’ Straight to It, disqualified from a victory in last year’s Radnor Hunt Cup, survived a foul claim in Saturday’s edition of the Radnor Hunt Races’ featured timber race after galloping home to an easy 9 1/2-length victory under Sean McDermott.
Immediately after the finish, trainer Jack Fisher and McDermott headed to the stewards’ tower after Kieran Norrris, rider of second finisher Old Timer, claimed foul for alleged interference on the final circuit of W. Burling Cocks Race Course in Malvern, Pa. Radnor’s stewards interviewed the jockeys and reviewed the patrol video before disallowing the foul claim.
The incident occurred on the straight near the end of the backstretch run when the field tightened to the dash to the finish line. Straight to It had a slight advantage when the bumping with Kinross Farm’s Old Timer occurred.
After passing pacesetter Personal Brew and Top Man Michael, both owned by Irv Naylor, Straight to It broke clear from the pack, and McDermott wrapped up on the winner for the final sixteenth of a mile. Old Timer finished 1 1/2 lengths clear of Jeremy Batoff’s Certain Swagger, who finished third under Paddy Young.
Top Man Michael was fourth, and Personal Brew was sixth.
Straight to It, fourth in the Virginia Gold Cup in his previous start on May 7, ran the $30,000 Radnor Hunt Cup’ 3 1/4 miles in 6:40.40 on firm turf.
Personal Brew, ridden by Willie McCarthy, set the pace for nearly three miles, with Top Man Michael shadowing him. Top Man Michael made a jumping mistake on the final circuit, and the trailing horses began to move into contention.
After the bumping, McDermott pulled the trigger on Straight to It, who surged away from his competitors, took the final fence with a clear lead, and was by himself through the stretch run.