BERRYVILLE, Va.--Mark Beecher saddled two winners at the Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point on April 17, including one for a new steeplechase owner and one horse aimed for steeplechasing that was a very classy winner on the flat.
Real Story winning the 2018 American Derby (Photo by Coady Photography) Flying Pheasant Farm's Felix Leiter, ridden by Brett Owings, won the 1 7/8 mile Maiden Hurdle by 2 lengths over Shendam, trained by Elizabeth Voss.
Flying Pheasant Farm is owned by Sean and Megan Dobbs.
"Felix Leiter is a nice horse," said Beecher. "They're flat owners. I have one flat horse for them. This was Felix Leiter's first start over fences. It's nice to have new owners. We have to get new blood in the sport. He may go to Willowdale or the Gold Cup. I haven't decided yet, but my preference is for Willowdale."
Felix Leiter raced near the pace and went to the front about halfway through the race,but Shendam quickly passed him and led until the final fulrong, where Felix Leiter regained the lead and won going away.
Beecher's second win came with Merriebelle Stable's Real Story, ridden by Owings, in the 1 1/2 mile Novice rider Flat race.
"Real Story is a very classy horse," said Beecher. "He won close to $400,000 on the flat. He's owned by Charlie Noell and Jeff Amling."
Real Story is a homebred gelding who was a graded stakes winner on the turf in his five years of racing from Tampa Bay and Gulfstream to Arlington, Keeneland, Churchill Downs and Laurel.
"HE'S A HALF BROTHER to My Afleet, who won twice for me and was stakes placed over hurdles and then won over timber st Willowdale," said Beecher. "We'll see if Real Story will take to steeplechasing. We'll run him on the flat for now and get him used to the undulations in the ground. He'll go to the 1 1/2 mile flat stakes race at the Gold Cup."
Real Story went right to the front at Blue Ridge and led all the way to win by 1/2 length over Grey Ghost, trained by Joe Davies.
Casey Pinkard also had two winners at Blue Ridge, one on the flat and one over timber.
EHB Racing's Huyana, ridden by Colin Smith, won the Restricted Young Rider Flat by 30 lengths over Big Dave, trained by Beth deStanley.
Pinkard also saddled Frank Bonsal's Profiteer, ridden by Paul Cawley, to win the 3 mile timber by 3 lengths over Mo's in the House, trained by Sam Cockburn.
Cockburn also saddled Gordon Keys' Keys Discount, ridden by Emme Fullilove, to win the Virginia Bred 1 mile flat race by 1 3/4 lengths over Mountain Express, trained by Nicki Valvo.
Elizabeth Voss saddled Mary Voss and Peter Webb's Bella Coola to win the 1 7/8 mile Amateur/Novice Rider Hurdle by a nose over Brave Deacon, trained by Davies.
