MIDDLEBURG, Va--Todd Wyatt saddled the winners of both the Maiden Timber and the Open Timber on Sunday,, April 27 at the Middlebug Point-to-Point.
James, left, and Todd WyattSarah M.Jay's Be Counted, ridden by Wyatt's son James, won the 3 mile Open Timber by a head in 5:59 over Racavan, trained by Richard Valentine, and Gun for Success, trained by Julie Gomena.
Racavan led over the first with Be Counted, Greylover and Marcel Magic following.
Racavan and Greylover had exchanged leads four times by the ninth fence.
At the 13th, Gun For Success joined Racavan, and competition got closer at the last as Be Counted won by a head over Racavan and Gun For Success.
"That was the horse and rider's foyrth win this spring if you count the Team race," said Wyatt. "James is 17 and just finiding his way, so we've been picking spots for him. Be Counted may go to Willowdale or Potomac."
Wyatt also saddled Ann Jackson's Left Blank, ridden by Freddie Procter, to win the Maiden Timber by a head in 6:06 4/5 over Lightning Ridge, trained by Sanna Neilson, and Reason to Pray, trained by James Piper.
At the start, Lightning Ridge was off first with Reason to Pray and Contre Ordre following.
At the seventh, Lightning Ridge led Left Blank with Contre Ordre third, and by the 15th Left Blank had taken the lead, and he went on to won.
"We've had him for a while,"said Wyatt."We ran him over hurdles.He's a good jumper, so we've been trying to get him over timber. It too a while for him to get it all together. It's nice to have a winner for an owner like Ann Jackson."
JACK FISHER saddled Matthew T. Groff's Starlifter, ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, to win the 2 1/8 mile Maiden Hurdle by 1 length in 4:32 3/5 over Solomon's Choice, trained by Jason Cole, and Final Opportunity, trained by Cyril Murphy.
Solomon's Choice went to the early lead, followed by Starlifter and Final Opportunity.
The leaders were closely bunched, but at the wire it was Starlifter.
Valentine saddled Mrs. George L. Ohrstrom Jr.'s Cadogan Place (GB), ridden by Mell Boucher, to win the Maiden Hurdle by 17 lengths in 4:28 2/5 over Ordinary Pleasure (Ire), trained by Keri Brion.
Brion saddled Layton L. Register''s Fiery Dart to win the 1 1/4 mile Maiden Flat by 12 lengths in 2:09 4/5, Leslie Young saddled Leipers Fork Steeplechasers' Vae Patron, ridden by Luke Carberry, to win the1 1/2 mile Novice Rider Flat by a neck in 2:34 1/5, and Jean Rofe saddled her Avalanche is Comin to win the 1 1/4 mile Open Flat by 4 3/4 lengths in 2:12..
