NEW KENT, Va.--Jack Fisher saddled Starlifter to win the $60,000, 2 1/4 mile Maiden Special Weight Hurdle at Colonial Downs on Thursday, July 24.

Starlifter wins at Colonial (Photo by Coady Media)Matthew T. Goff's Starlifter, ridden by Graham Watters, won his first sanctioned race over fences by a nose over In Effect, trained by Neil Morris,and Arturo Toscanini (Ire), trained by Keri Brion.

"He was ready to go to Middleburg, but then I saw the purse money a Colonial," said Fisher.

Stalifter moved up to second on the clubhouse turn and moved up to join In Effect for the lead at the last fence.

Starlifter and In Effect battled stride for stride down the stretch with Starlifter edging ahead to win by a nose.

"In the stretch, I was hoping he'd be second," said Fisher.  "That way I'd make more money as he'd get this purse and another when he wins. He'll go to Shawan next .He's not a Saratoga horse."

Before Groff's ownership and his running over fences, Starlifter ran in flat races in 2023 and 2024 as a 2- and 3-year-old, mainly in claiming races at Laurel, winning once and hitting the board in about half of his 14 races.

With this win, Fisher increased his lead in Trainer, Races Won to five,with 15 wins to second placed Leslie Young and Kathy Neilson, with 10 each.

In Trainer, Money Won, Fisher has more than double amount than his closest pursuer, with $751,650 to Brion''s $353.550 and Young's $343.150, and he is well on his way to another $1 million year.

 

BRION SADDLED Hudson River Farms and R and K Racing's The Insider (Ire), ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, to win the $40,000 Rating Handicap Hurdle by  4 1/2 lengths over Parliament Hill (GB), trained by Tom Garner, and Bee Well, trained by Arch Kingsley.

The Insider leads on his way to winning at Colonial (Photo by Coady Media)Brion has trained The Insider since 2022, after Gordon Elliot brought him over from Ireland to win the Gladstone Hurdle Stakes at Far Hills.

Since then, The Insider has run six times, falling once, pulling up twice and winning twice with one second.

Avakate, owned by Ballybristol Farm, trained by Neil Morris and ridden by Watters, won the $60,000 Filly and Mare Maiden Hurdle by 12 1/2 lengths over Beautiful Gorgeous, trained by Laird George, and Camcha, trained by Todd Wyatt.

Avakate went into the lead after the fourth fence and drew off in the stretch to win easily. 

With that win, Watters increased his lead in Rider, Races Won to 11 over Dwan Evans and Mulqueen, with eight wins each.

Bernie Dalton leads in Rider, Money Won with $514,250,with Watters second with $458,550 and Mulqueen third with $308.550.