NEW KENT, Va.--Keri Brion had the winners of both $60,000 Maiden Hurdle races on Thursday, Aug. 21 at Colonial Downs, while Kathy Neilson saddled the winner of the $35,000 Handicap Hurdle.
Swore (Photo by Photos Coady Media)Brion also had two winners at Saratoga in the afternoon for four winners in one day - quite a day!
Swore, trained by Brion and ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, won the first race, a $60,000, 2 1/4 mile Maiden Hurdle, by 2 1/4 lengths over Gratia Prince, trained by Barry Foley and ridden by Bernie Dalton, and Predominate, trained by Todd McKenna and ridden by Freddie Procter.
"Swore is a nice horse for Stone Farm and Upland Flats, which is owned by Patrick Lewis ," said Brion. "He's one of my nicest new horses to go jumping."
A 6-year-old by Broken Vow out of a Ghostzapper mare, Swore was trained by Graham Motion through his 5-year-old year with one win, in an allowance race, two seconds and two thirds.
He was second in his first race for Brion, a maiden hurdle at Colonial.
Swore ran third for much of race, moved to the inside on the final turn to get to the lead with a furlong to go and edged clear to win in a drive by 2 1/4 lengths.
DARK HORSE Racing and Keri Brion's Anoint, trained by Brion and ridden by Mulqueen, won the $60,000 Filly and Mare Maiden Hurdle race by 3 lengths over Red Tone, ridden by Virginia Korrell and trained by F. Hill Parker, and Wilma Flintstone, ridden by Mell Boucher and trained by Lillith Boucher.
Anoint, left (Photo by Photos Coady Media)"Anoint is a Sheppard homebred, a niece to Italian Wedding," said Brion, "She's won on dirt, turf, synthetic and now over hurdlea. She's a nice filly. They're two nice horses."
A 7-year-old by Temple out of Sheppard's Warm Glow, by Sky Classic, was trained by Sheppard as a 2-year-old and then trained by Brion from her 4-year-old year on with five wins, three seconds and two thirds from 20 starts.
Anoint was rank while being settled in the back of the 11 horse field, moving up gradually and after the last fence making her move, but she was blocked on the turn.
Anoint moved to the inside and found a hole to drive through and go to the lead to win by 3 lengths.
Brion wasn't at Colonial, as she had four horses running at Saratoga, two of which were winners and one third.
Miztertonic won a $95,000 Allowance race and One Last Knock won a $90,000 Maiden Race for fillies and mare 3 and up, while Marguerita Molly was third in a Maiden race for 2 year olds.
Four wins for Brion in one day - a good days work!
Bright Eyed Eagle, center in turquoise silks (Photo by Photos Coady Media)Kathy Neilson saddled Nancy A. Reed and Jack S. Griswold's Bright Eyed Eagle (Ire), ridden by Gerard Galligan,, to win the $35,000 Ratings Handicap by 1 length over Hold Hard (Ire), trained by Doug Fout and ridden by Dalton, and Dante's Fire, trained by Neil Morris and ridden by Graham Watters.
"I've had Bright Eyed Eagle for a few years," said Neilson. :He came over from England. He likes Colonial. He broke his maiden there and then ran was second. He won for two of my all time favorite owners."
"I didn't give Gerard much instruction," said Neilson. "He usually handicaps races himself, and he's ridden him before."
"I'll have to consult with my owners about where to go next," she said. "I know they want to make him into a timber horse. But he's not exactly an amateur's horse. He can be a little rude. We'll have to see how he takes to it."
