Jumps: Handicapping Another Triple Header

Another three-meet Saturday as the jumpers disperse to Queen’s Cup in North Carolina, Foxfield in Virginia and the Maryland Hunt Cup, in you guessed it, Maryland. The best novices clash at Queen’s Cup, the best 4-mile timber horses clash in the Hunt Cup and a slew of hurdlers and maiden timber horses clash at Foxfield. Great racing all around.

Keeping score at home? Last week, Tom notched four wins at Middleburg, touting Charminster, Decoy Daddy, Sacred Soul and Absolum. Sean had two winners at Middleburg – Charminster and Absolum. Joe bagged four the hard way – two at Middleburg (Sacred Soul and Kasari) and two at Grand National (Foyle by DQ and Terko Service) to maintain a slight lead in the standings 14-13 over Tom, with Sean limping along with nine (he is crushing Tom and Joe in My Fantasy Stable, by the way).

The Maryland Hunt Cup. Glyndon, Md. Post time, 4:00.

First Race. The Maryland Hunt Cup. A one-race card, the classic of all American timber races. Remember when the race attracted just four starters, creating a debate over the amateur rider restriction? Not this year, as 16 of the-bravest-of-the-brave crossed the entry box. At 3 p.m. Friday, there was one scratch (Justpourit) so 15 are aiming to go 4 miles over 22 fences. You have all day to think about it, 4:00 post time.

Joe: Guts For Garters. Bon Caddo. Battle Op.
Sean: Guts For Garters, Battle Op, Twill Do.
Tom: Twill Do, Guts For Garters, Battle Op.

The Foxfield Races. Charlottesville, Va. Five races. Post time, 1:30.

First Race. Small field of six line up for $15,000 purse. Arrow’s Conquest, Super Saturday and Chief Chicago make their debuts while Class Baton, Young Bohemian and Imaspeedyguy represent prolific outfits. Arrow’s Conquest has the advantage on flat form, winning nearly $200,000 at Woodbine for Sam-Son Farm and Malcolm Pierce.

Joe: Class Baton, Young Bohemian, Imaspeedyguy
Sean: Class Baton, Arrow’s Conquest, Young Bohemian.
Tom: Class Baton, Arrow’s Conquest, Super Saturday.

Second Race. Maiden Timber. Welcome to your third career, Worried Man, Triplekin and most of the rest. Novice stakes winner Triplekin makes timber debut for Maggie Bryant and Neil Morris.

Joe: Triplekin, Worried Man, Imperial Way.
Sean: Worried Man, Triplekin, Herons Well.
Tom: Imperial Way, Triplekin, Ed’s Big Bet.

Third Race. Filly and Mare Maiden. Chris Kolb and Gordonsdale Farm send out Deep Run, third at Saratoga last summer while Jonathan Sheppard returns Brilliant Match from a seventh at Camden.

Joe: Flagrant Honor, Brilliant Match, Deep Run.
Sean: Brilliant Match, Deep Run, Take Her Tothe Top.
Tom: Belle of the Congo, Deep Run, Brilliant Match.

Fourth Race. Allowance/Optional Claiming Hurdle. Seven line up for the $25,000 purse with former novice stakeswinner Complete Zen and $241,396 earner Southwest gaining most of the focus.

Joe: Southwest, Complete Zen, Sumo Power
Sean: Complete Zen, Southwest, Sulwaan.
Tom: Southwest, Sulwaan, Final Straw.

Fifth Race. Claiming Hurdle. Neil Morris sends out three of the seven runners in the $15,000 claimer while Hidden Trail makes his first start since pulling up at Saratoga in 2010.

Joe: Class Launch, Marine Officer, Wolverton.
Sean: Hidden Trail, Marine Officer, Class Launch.
Tom: Hidden Trail, Class Launch, Marine Officer.

Queen’s Cup Steeplechase. Mineral Springs, N.C. Post time, 1:30.

First Race. Maiden Hurdle. Tom Voss unveils first-time starter Tempt Me Alex, Janet Elliot unveils training flat race phenom Alburj and Doug Fout unveils point-to-point winner Silverado Beach. Michael Leaf sends out Black Pond, who was last seen running for Irv Naylor and J.W. Delozier. Albany Road attempts to make up for an excuse-laden run at Camden. John Maples makes his second start for Kate Dalton’s stable.

Joe: Alburj, Albany Road, Black Pond
Sean: Albany Road, Alburj, Silverado Beach.
Tom: Albany Road, Alburj, Black Pond.

Second Race. Short field lines up for the starter allowance. Recent graduate Certain Swagger takes on veteran Royale and the Thiel veil of Moving Violation, Call Me Sonny and Sir Dynamite.

Joe: Certain Swagger, Sir Dynamite, Royale
Sean: Certain Swagger, Royale, Sir Dynamite.
Tom: Royale, Certain Swagger, Call Me Sonny.

Third Race. Training Flat. Nice to see Colonial Cup winner Demonstrative return to action, seeking a prep for bigger things to come. Naylor import Jamarjo, five-time winner on flat in Britain, makes his U.S. debut. Elliot dustes of Canaveral, last seen finishing 6^th in the Sycamore at Keeneland. Filly champion Cat Feathers makes her 2013 debut.

Joe: Canaveral, WIld For Gold, Demonstrative.
Sean: Canaveral, Demonstrative, Tropic Sea.
Tom: Demonstrative, Canaveral, Jamarjo.

Fourth Race. The Queen’s Cup MPC Chase Hurdle. Novice stakes attracts seven including Carolina Cup 1-2-3 Alajmal, Fog Island and Forgotten Man. Mr. Hot Stuff, Barnstorming, Black Quartz and Wild For Gold add their own spark. Cool race.

Joe: Mr. Hot Stuff, Alajmal, Fog Island.
Sean: Alajmal, Mr. Hot Stuff, Fog Island.
Tom: Alajmal, Fog Island, Mr. Hot Stuff.

Fifth Race. Maiden Hurdle. Second division of the maiden attracts six, including some high-profile newcomers. The talented Rugged Rascal makes his second NSA start, as does import All That Rules.

Joe: Rugged Rascal, Love Of Flying, Awesome Pearl.
Sean: All That Rules, Rugged Rascal, Love Of Flying.
Tom: Love Of Flying, All That Rules, Rugged Rascal.

Sixth Race. Maiden Claimer Hurdle. Wow, get the darts. Nancy Boska and Caroline Sankey could land the nightcap.