Foxfield ‘24
1st Race: Maiden Claiming ($20k - $15k)
Top Selections: Reel Well, I Am Fortunata, Lord Donegal
1. Lord Donegal - first time over jumps, Breeding should suit
2. Condigo- 5th in the similar condition here last fall
3. Pencillin Success - Drops down to claiming company in 3rd start over jumps
4. Westerland - Long career maiden 2nd in last start almost 1 year ago. Steps up in competition level here.
5. Lowcountry - Has not run in over 18 months, drops into claiming ranks
6. Fingal - New jockey on the NSA scene Ryan Treacy, well beaten 6th at same level in March at Aiken.
7. I am Fortunata - knocking on the door at this level. Should be fit and appreciate the hilly
course.
8. Reel Well - First time over fences
9. Auchincruive - First time over fences
10. Mr. Jefferson - has been uncompetitive since converting from flat to jumps. Drops in claiming level again to find better suited company.
2nd Race: Ratings Handicap (110 and lower)
Top Selections: Baltimore Kid, Union Gen. George, Recent Revelations
1. Webb - Nice front running score last year to break his maiden at Radnor, first run against winners over jumps. Boucher gets back aboard
2. Minella Plus - A 5 time winner overseas. Ran out through a wing of the fence at Aiken in
U.S. debut.
3. Bourbon Diversion - 3rd last out at the same level in Aiken. Late rally
4. Baltimore Kid - Changes trainer from Brion to Wyatt. Decent second over the course at the same level last fall.
5. Rhebus Road - 2nd in U.S. debut last year in similar level at Willowdale . Has not run since then. Prepped with point to point run.
6. Fits the Jill - 6 year old mare hasn’t started since pulled up at Nashville in f/m stake last year.
7. New Appointment - Another 6 year old mare. Prepped in flat race last week at Middleburg. Uncompetitive at similar level last fall.
8. Union Gen. George - Won first time over jumps last fall. 3rd two weeks ago, should be more competitive after that run.
9. Recent Revelations - Makes his first start back under NSA rules in over 2 years. Had back to back flat wins in prep for this race. Should be competitive at his level on paper.
3rd Race: Maiden 1st division
Top Selections: Hidden Path, Travesuras, Irelands Call
1. High Deff - Comment says ‘showed little’ in first start of the season at Old Dominion earlier this month.
2. Irelands Call - Makes his 3rd start over hurdles. Led and faded in his first start this season at Camden. Should improve from that and be competitive here if he does.
3. Hidden Path - He began the season with a victory on the flat at Aiken followed up by a well beaten 3rd in his jumping debut to conclude his southern campaign. Makes his 2nd start over jumps after coming back up to PA for a freshening. Should be competitive if he takes a step forward from last effort.
4. Doesn’t Sing - Makes his debut over fences
5. Royne - A very talented horse on the flat he’s yet to find his way over fences under the conditioning of Brion.
6. Pavoni - 4 year old makes debut over fences after decent flat career.
7. Travesuras - Has been competitive at the Maiden level with a second and two thirds. Should have a say here.
8. Ruthenian - Makes his second jumping start after a 4th in his first try at Aiken last month
4th race: Maiden Timber
Top Selections: Presence of Mind, Animal Kingston, Junonia
1. Pleasecallmeback - Makes his second start over fences, Pulled up in first try at Blue Ridge last month. Cheek pieces on
2. POTUS - First run over jumps after a decent career over hurdles
3. Hard Game - This will be his third start over timber after finishing 4th in both previous experiences this year. Blinkers come off
4. Eryx - Makes his second start over timber after a decent 3rd place effort in his first try at Blueridge last month
5. Presence of Mind - Makes his timber debut after a very solid career over hurdles. Breeding should suit the step up in distance and jumping effort.
6. Animal Kingston - This will be his third start over timber. He was put to the test two weeks ago at the Manor where he was a weakening 5th. An encouraging 2nd in his first start over timber earlier this year and should be very competitive if he takes a step forward from his last run.
7. Uco Valley - Made his timber debut earlier this season at Cheshire where he was a tiring 8th.
8. Junonia - The big grey made his transition to timber this season with a big ask last start at the Manor where he lost his rider over the last fence. We’ll see if veteran jockey Dalton has any better luck here.
9. Post War - Makes his debut over fences here in his first run in over 2 years.
5th Race: Novice Hurdle Stakes Purse $75,000. For Four Year Olds and Upward which have not won over hurdles prior to March 1, 2023 or which have never won three races, other than three year old. Four-year-olds, 142 lbs.; older, 150 lbs. Winners, other than maiden, claiming, starter or restricted three-year-old race: 3 lbs. extra for each race won. Two Miles And One Eighth (Hurdle)
Top Selections: Neotropic, Kiyomori, Go Poke The Bear
1. Kiyomori - Comes into this off a win on the flat at Middleburg last week. Should be back to form after winning the stake at Aiken to close out last season.
2. Neotropic - A very impressive winner last fall at Great Meadow beating Kiyomori. 4th in seasonal debut at Camden. Should improve off that first effort as most from the Fisher camp do.
3. Going Country - Keeping very strong company he makes his seasonal debut after being away from the races for nearly a year. Adds cheek piecesuu
4. Go Poke The Bear - Won very handily in typical front running style two weeks ago at Tryon. Slight step up in distance and quality of competition here.
5. Taddenham Green - Makes U.S. debut under McDermott who’s not ridden for Fisher in some time. A two time winner over seas, comes over boasting strong form.
6. Ziggle Pops - A horse who holds plenty of ability but spotty form. He’s 2 for 5 since importing from England nearly 3 years ago. He posted a 4th two weeks ago in his first sanctioned race in 11 months. Could be just getting into form after a flat prep before that first start.
7. Total Joy - He made a splash last season with back to back wins after trainer Leslie Young imported him from England. He starts his season after a prep in around Shawan last month in an unsanctioned race.
Race 6: The Good Night Shirt Stakes Purse $50,000. For Four Year Olds and Upward which are rated 130 or lower. The highest rated horse will be assigned 158 lbs. with all other weights adjusted accordingly based on the current ratings. Minimum weight 140 lbs. No rider allowances. Two Miles And One Eighth (Hurdle)
Top Selections: Proven Innocent, Gold Charm, Who’s Counting
1. Who’s Counting - The talented six year old son of Vancouver has talent on the flat and over Jumps. He makes his seasonal debut here after a valiant runner up effort at Far Hills last year.
2. Welshman - The son of Flintshire should be close to the pace as is his typical style. His form tailed off last season after winning the G2 at Great Meadow last spring.
3. Caramelised - He was runner up in a game effort at Aiken earlier this season to West Newton. Comes back here after a four week rest and should be part of the early pace picture.
4. Gold Charm - The five year old mare was extremely impressive in her two wins last summer at Colonial. She makes her seasonal debut agains the boys getting a weight allowance of 6 lbs from the next closest entry.
5. Gordon’s Jet - His form tailed off last fall after winning on U.S. debut last spring then finishing a close second to Welshman in his G2 victory at Great Meadow.
6. Proven Innocent - The third of Fishers half of the field and stable jockey, Graham Watters’ choice of mounts. Kept very good company over the past three seasons after his strong Novice year. He hasn’t posted anything recently of note but a tell maybe who Waters went with.
Race 7: Ratings Handicap Hurdle Purse $35,000. For Four Year Olds and Upward which are rated 115 or lower. The highest rated horse will be assigned 158 lbs. with all other weights adjusted accordingly based on the current ratings. Minimum weight 140 lbs., not including apprentice allowances. Two Miles And One Eighth (Hurdle)
Top Selections: Seismic Wave, Icandothat, Auction Kingdom
1. Oscar Winner - Tired and pulled up in his seasonal debut in Camden. Finished last season with a win at Aiken. Should be part of the early pace with apprentice rider Brian Barry.
2. Auction Kingdom - He was a strong second two weeks ago at Tryon. Looks like he’s back in form this season picking up right where he left off last breaking his maiden in nice style at Great Meadow.
3. Icandothat - Ridden and trained to a front running victory two weeks ago he looks to keep his nose infront for two consecutive races. Steps up against winners and will likely have a contested lead early.
4. Eye of Gunfighter - He’s posed two seconds from two runs over hurdles this spring. A versatile horse he’s run over hurdles, steeplethon course, turf, and dirt. He was a strong second last weekend in the Steeplethon behind Court Ruler. A winner over the course last year he looks to notch his 6th life time victory.
5. Seismic Wave - He ran on the flat last week to finish 5th in preparation for his seasonal debut over hurdles here. The son of Tapit had a very productive ‘23 and looks to pick up where he left off winning in Charleston last fall.
6. Ledford - He ran twice last summer at Saratoga after trainer Tom Garner imported him from England. He makes his seasonal debut here under apprentice jockey Even Dwan.
7. Arrowheart - Making his seasonal debut, he pulled up in his most recent sanctioned start last November at Aiken. He won over this course last year in a front running score. Another looking to be close to the pace early.
8. State of Affair - He made his last start at Aqueduct over hurdles in the Novice Stakes last September. He makes his seasonal debut here. Also a front runner he won at Saratoga last summer in this fashion but may take a back seat to some of these other front runners here.
9. Artistic Choice - He makes his U.S. debut for trainer Leslie Young. The son of Caravaggio has two wins from 14 starts overseas. He was third in his last start a year ago in England.
