A highly competitive field of jump-racing newcomers will line up Tuesday for a $35,000 allowance hurdle at Parx Racing. Also on the program is a full field for a $30,000 Sport of Kings maiden hurdle. First post time is 12:55 p.m.
Carrying the race’s 156-pound highweight is Magalen O. Bryant’s Personal Start, who started his 2016 season with a maiden victory at the Atlanta Steeplechase in April. He set the early pace in the Marcellus Frost Novice Stakes at the Iroquois Steeplechase on May 14 and fell while tiring in the late going. Trainer Richard Valentine named Bernie Dalton to ride.
Valentine also will saddle The Elkstone Group’s Albany Road, who finished second in a Stoneybrook Steeplechase allowance hurdle in April before being pulled up in a $45,000 allowance hurdle at the Virginia Gold Cup on May 7. Jack Doyle, currently the leading jockey by purse earnings, has the mount.
Welcome Here Farm’s Second Amendment will be looking to fire in the 2 1/16-mile race over National Fences. Bred in Pennsylvania by Nina Gardner, Second Amendment has two second-place finishes this year in allowance hurdles. Trained by Elizabeth Merryman, the National Anthem gelding will be ridden by Kieran Norris.
Reigning champion jockey Paddy Young will be aboard Sharon Sheppard’s Comanchero for his wife, trainer Leslie Young. Irish-bred Comanchero, who shares the 152-pound second highweight with Second Amendment, will be looking for his first 2016 victory.
Here is the field for the $35,000 allowance hurdle. The horse’s National Steeplechase Association rating is in parentheses at the end of each profile.
Buckrail. 2012 ch. g., Kitten’s Joy—Phloxy, by Alphabet Soup. Owner: Susan Y. Granville. Trainer: Kevin Boniface. Jockey: Ross Geraghty. Breeder: Susan Y. Granville (Md.) 2016 record: 2-0-0-0, $1,500. Finished fifth and was placed fourth in a Virginia Gold Cup maiden flat race, then was pulled up in Radnor allowance hurdle. Won his maiden victory over fences at Shawan Downs in 2015. (111)
Personal Start. 2011 dk. b. or br. g., Jump Start—Personal Doreen, by Personal Flag. Owner: Magalen O. Bryant. Trainer: Richard Valentine. Jockey: Bernie Dalton. Breeder: Magalen O. Bryant (Ky.) 2016 record: 2-1-0-0, $18,000. 2015 NSA record: 1-0-0-0, $0. Won 2016 Atlanta Cup maiden hurdle and fell in Marcellus Frost Novice Stakes at Iroquois Steeplechase. Fell in his jump-racing debut at 2015 Far Hills Races. (116)
Comanchero (Ire). 2011 b. g., Comacho—Trempjane, by Lujain. Owner: Sharon Sheppard. Trainer: Leslie Young. Jockey: Paddy Young. Breeder: Yeomantown Stud (Ire). 2016 record: 2-0-0-0, $1,400. 2015 record: 1-1-0-0, $12,000. Finished fifth in 2016 Georgia Cup optional allowance hurdle, then lost rider in High Hope’s optional allowance hurdle. In first start over fences, won a $20,000 maiden hurdle at 2015 Shawan Downs meet. (115)
Second Amendment. 2010 gr. or ro. g., National Anthem (GB)—Bullet Card, by Press Card. Owner: Welcome Here Farm. Trainer: Elizabeth M. Merryman. Jockey: Kieran Norris. Breeder: Nina H. Gardner (Pa.) 2016 record: 3-0-2-0, $14,400. 2015 NSA record: 2-1-0-0, $14,000. Closed for second in 2016 Radnor conditioned allowance. Finished second in allowance hurdle at 2016 Virginia Gold Cup after being pulled up in Stoneybrook Steeplechase’s Sandhills Cup optional allowance hurdle. Won maiden hurdle at Charleston Cup to close 2015 season. In first start over fences, finished fourth at International Gold Cup. (115)
King Ting (Ire.) 2008 dk. b. or br. g., Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)—Ting A Greeley, by Mr. Greeley. Owner: Kinross Farm. Trainer: Christopher Read. Jockey: Gerard Galligan. Breeder: Carhue Stud (Ire). 2016 record: 2-0-1-0, $4,500. 2015 record: 2-1-0-1, $14,500. Finished second in 2016 Queen’s Cup Ratings Handicap, then was pulled up in Radnor Ratings Handicap. Won maiden claimer easily at 2015 High Hope Steeplechase. (113)
Barbara’s Smile. 2011 ch. m., Curlin—Credenza, by Lord Carlos. Owner: Over Creek Stables. Trainer: Julie Gomena. Jockey: Mark Watts. Breeders: Kingswood Farm, David Egan, and Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (Ky.) 2016 record: 2-0-0-2, $4,500. 2015 record: 3-1-0-0, $12,600. Began 2016 with thirds in Aiken Spring Ratings Handicap and Atlanta allowance hurdle for fillies and mares. Finished eighth in Colonial Cup’s 2015 Springdale Stakes. Won Aiken Fall maiden hurdle for fillies. Raced on the flat and was claimed for $12,500 at Aqueduct in December 2014. (98)
Albany Road. 2007 ch. g., Mr. Greeley—Jane’s the Name, by Trempolino. Owner: The Elkstone Group. Trainer: Richard Valentine. Jockey: Jack Doyle. Breeder: Gainesway Thoroughbreds (Ky.) 2016 record: 2-0-1-0, $4,500. 2015 record: No starts. 2014 record: 6-0-0-3, $22,450. Came back after long absence to set pace in 2016 Sandhills Cup optional allowance hurdle at Stoneybrook Steeplechase and held on for good second. Pulled up in Virginia Gold Cup allowance hurdle. (120)