Happy Easter. Opening Weekend at Keeneland, the last Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, Kentucky Derby talk, the Elkridge-Harford Point-to-Point in Maryland and three NSA races on the Old Dominion Hounds Point-to-Point card in Virginia. Saturday’s post time at the historic Ben Venue estate in Washington, Va. is noon with the first NSA races at 1:35 p.m.
Last week, Swore continued his ascension in the hurdle ranks with a Carolina Cup win for Stone Farm, Upland Flats Racing, trainer Keri Brion and jockey Stephen Mulqueen. The Broken Vow gelding couldn’t get over the first-level allowance bar on the flat but has won four of six starts over jumps since making his first hurdle start in July 2025. He dominated at Camden, drawing off to win by 6 3/4 lengths over Chortal with Coutach third. Other winners last week included On The Couch for Keystone Thoroughbreds, Todd McKenna and Jamie Bargary in the maiden claimer, Pleasant Fantasy in the maiden for St. Rita Racing, Kate Dalton and Bernie Dalton, King Of Tsavo for Sharon Sheppard, Leslie Young and Evan Dwan in the 115 handicap and Merry Maker in the training flat. For the pedigree-inclined, Pleasant Fantasy is a half-brother to hurdle stakes winner China Beach and was claimed by the same connections for $16,000 at Colonial Downs last summer.
At Cheshire, timber winners were Uco Valley, De Nordener, Harrenhal and For The Parish.
The pickers managed a few winners last week, but like baseball sluggers say, “It’s early.” Miles came up with five – Swore, Uco Valley, De Nordener, Harrenhal, For The Parish. Sean (Swore, Merry Maker, Uco Valley, For The Parish) and Tom (Swore, Uco Valley, De Nordener, For The Parish) had four while Joe tabbed two (Swore and Uco Valley). Miles, Sean and Tom are tied with seven for the season. Joe has five.
On to Old Dominion. You can watch the live stream via the NSA website.
1:35 p.m. $30,000 maiden hurdle, 2 1/4 miles.
Six meet in the opener. Morning Match ran well in his debut at Aiken, as did Rotterdam. Beau Ciel and Middle Ages are probably better than some rough 3-year-old form last year. The seasoning had to help. Big George gets the Jack Fisher barn going.
- Sean: Morning March, Big George, Beau Ciel.
- Joe: Rotterdam, Morning March, Beau Ciel.
- Tom: Big George, Rotterdam, Aspenite.
- Miles: Morning March, Aspenite, Big George.
2:10 p.m. $30,000 maiden hurdle, 2 1/4 miles.
Seven look to graduate here. High Deff exits a timber start at Cheshire last week. Vana Bright is a rare Tennessee-bred and one of two mares in the field along with Belle Wish. The latter makes her first start since she was second twice 2024 and had a point-to-point tuneup at Piedmont.
- Sean: Missionaire, Doctor Love, When U Know.
- Joe: Belle Wish, Doctor Love, Missionaire.
- Tom: Doctor Love, Belle Wish, Missionaire.
- Miles: Belle Wish, Doctor Love, Missionaire.
2:45 p.m. $15,000 apprentice jockey allowance hurdle, 2 1/4 miles.
Other than the jockeys, the only restriction is entries can’t have won a stakes over hurdles or timber in 2025-26. That didn’t do much to minimize the class as stakes winners Going Country and Clifton Down lead a field of four. Hidden Path has won twice over hurdles, including a Saratoga allowance, and placed in four stakes. Elizabeth Scully gets the ride for Upland Flats and trainer Ricky Hendriks. Walk The Warrior placed in stakes in 2024 and 2025 and won a classy allowance hurdle last April. He tried cross-country races last fall, but goes back to hurdling here.
- Sean: Hidden Path, Going Country, Walk The Warrior.
- Joe: Hidden Path, Going Country, Walk The Warrior.
- Tom: Going Country, Hidden Path, Clifton Down.
- Miles: Going Country, Hidden Path, Walk the Warrior.
