Rockingham Breeders' Cup Handicap

How hot was it? Too hot!! As the nation celebrated its birthday Rockingham Park hosted its second major Turf event of the summer under sweltering heat and humidity. Every precaution possible was taken to ensure the health and safety of the beautiful thoroughbreds who give their all for our enjoyment. Many of the runners received pre- race hose downs to ease the effect of the heat.

Sunlit Ridge gets a pre-race cooling

This year's running drew a very competitive field including Step With Style, last year's winner, from the barn of Christophe Clement, and Stylish, who would go off as the favorite, from the barn of Bill Mott. Earlier in the week Joe Hampshire was between a "Rock" and a hard place when he had the option to ride either of these fine fillies. Joe chose Step With Style whom he rode to victory last year. Also in the field was the very hot Sword Princess, a beautiful gray who was bred by local jockey Dodie Duys. Dodie's father  is  the owner.

Defending champ Step With Style

The Bill Mott trained Stylish proved she deserved the even money favoritism by cruising to an easy victory by four lengths. The surprise of the race was the second place finish of Sword Princess. The place spot didn't come easy as  Dodie's gray filly had a claim of foul lodged against her for putting Step With Style in tight quarters at the top of the stretch. The claim was disallowed.  Sword Princess relishes the Rock Turf course and looks to dominate the locals this summer.

Stylish cruises to victory

The Rockingham Park Derby

Some notable silks have graced the Rockingham Park Winner's Circle lately, the Red, White, and Blue of Allen Paulson, the Green & White of the Thoroughbred Corporation, and with the completion of the Rockingham Park Derby add the Powder Blue and Brown Hoop of Mary Lou Whitney. The Nick Zito trained son of Devil's Bag, Bag Of Mischief, made every pole a winning one, even after stumbling at the start. Assistant trainer Tim Poole noted "my heart was in my mouth when he stumbled coming out of the gate. He did a great job recovering."

An easy victory in the RP Derby

The Rockingham Park Sprint Handicap

This race was eventful from start to finish. At the finish line, an exciting ending as favorite Esteemed Friend overtook the front running Danielles Magic to win by a neck. At the start, Curtin Time refused to move when the gates opened. In deep stretch, Ron Dandy's Stroke fell to the ground. The horse got up quickly and ran off. There were several anxious minutes as Joe Hampshire was motionless on the track. A round of cheers arose from the railbirds as Joe slowly sat up then walked off. Horse & rider OK 

Esteemed Friend (3) overtakes Danielles Magic

New England at The Spa

In 2001 New England horses got shut out at the Upstate New York racing playground. Oh, what a difference a year makes! On August 4th the Anthony Pyliotis owned Captain Red  cruised to victory in the fourth race under the urging of jockey Richard Migliore.

Captain Red wins at the Spa

Later on the same day Danielles Magic just missed in a $49,000 allowance race. The three year old colt  owned and trained by Jennifer Hayford finished second by a neck to Esteemed Friend in The Rockingham Park Sprint on July 20th. 

Danielles Magic misses by a neck

On August 29th Tolland Farms two year old New York Bred filly Sweet Samantha dominated a maiden race in the slop and rain winning by more than twenty two lengths. Off at odds of ten to one, jockey Dodie Duys sent Sweet Samantha  right to the lead and steadily increased the margin at each point of call.

Sweet Samantha cruises in the Saratoga slop

Kenneth L Graf Memorial Handicap

The Labor Day weekend at Rockingham has always highlighted the local talent, and this year was no different. The weekend ended on a soggy note, but the final stakes, The Kenneth Graf, remained on the turf. The highly regarded Sword Princess went off at even money and stalked the pace until the final turn, then took the lead. Vernon Bush on Kimster came running late and managed to catch the favorite near the line. The win was the fourth straight for the Danly Farm color bearer. 

Kimster overtakes Sword Princess

The Floyd Duncan Stakes

Two-year-old colts had their first chance to lay claim to the divisional championship with the 12th running of The Floyd Duncan Stakes. Manfred Roos' Farmer Inthe Dell and Francis McDonald's Jewels Rocket were very close in the betting and wound up close at the finish line. Farmer Inthe Dell, who got off slow,  surged to the lead in the last seventy yards to gain a half length win. "He ran a very game race and showed a lot of heart." noted trainer John Rigattieri. The winner was ridden by Dyn Panell

The Farmer surges to victory

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