Virginia Gold Cup Races
Great Meadow, The Plains, Virginia
Saturday, May 5, 2012

First Race
Purse $20,000    The Audi Cup    Sport of Kings Maiden Hurdle    About 2 1/2 miles over National Fences
OrderHorse WgtRiderOwnerTrainerPurse
1Forgotten Man 140Jeff MurphyBetsy B. MeadDoug Fout$12,000
2Annual Update 140Robert WalshMrs. William L. PapeRichard L. Valentine$3,600
3Dancing David (Ire) 154Christopher ReadOtter RacingNeil R. Morris$2,000
4Battalion 140Xavier AizpuruKingfisher FarmJack Fisher$1,000
5Bonded (Ire) *149Gus DahlS. Bruce Smart, Jr.Jimmy Day$800
6Arrakis 154Carl RafterOver Creek Stables LLCJulie Gomena$600
7Formal Notice 154Mark WattsThomas M. Beach, Jr.Thomas M. Beach, Jr. 
8Crown Court 154Roddy MackenzieW. Gary BakerEva D. Smithwick 
PUWritten Approval 140Willie McCarthyMove Up StableKatherine S. Neilson 

Forgotten Man and Annual Update hooked up on the front end on the first turn and battled to the finish where Forgotten Man was narrowly best.

Winning Margin: nose   Winning Time: 5:05 3/5   Turf: firm

Forgotten Man, ch. g. 2008, by Bowman's Band out of Hark the Sound (GB), by Robellino. Bred by Betsy B. Mead (Ky)

Second Race
Purse $25,000    The Infinitive Steeplethon    About 3 miles over the Steeplethon Course
OrderHorse WgtRiderOwnerTrainerPurse
1Swimming River 160Jeff MurphyIndian Run FarmEva D. Smithwick$15,000
2Humdinger 160Jacob RobertsMichael A. SmithNeil R. Morris$4,500
3Major Malibu 160William DowlingMrs. Henry F. SternJack Fisher$2,500
4Woodmont *155Mary MotionMary MotionNeil R. Morris$1,250
5Scuba Steve 160Roddy MackenzieArmata StablesKatherine S. Neilson$1,000
6Sand Box Rules 160Christopher ReadKinross FarmNeil R. Morris$750
7Won Wild Bird 152Carl RafterWally PinkardRegina Welsh 
8Honour Emblem 155Mark WattsRichard A. ChantryMichael Berryman 
PUDynaway 155Robert WalshArmata StablesTodd J. Wyatt 

Winning Margin: 3 1/4   Winning Time: 5:59 1/5   Turf: firm

Swimming River, dk.b./br. g. 2002, by The Wicked North out of My Last Gin, by American Standard. Bred by Long Lane Farm LLC (NJ)

Third Race
Purse $35,000    The M. C. Dean Chase    Allowance Hurdle    About 2 1/2 miles over National Fences
OrderHorse WgtRiderOwnerTrainerPurse
1Fog Island 144Darren NagleMrs. William L. PapeRichard L. Valentine$21,000
2Almarmooq 144Roddy MackenzieIrvin S. NaylorKatherine S. Neilson$6,300
3Brave Prospect 144Xavier AizpuruWoodslane FarmJack Fisher$3,500
4Canardly 144William DowlingKaren B. EylesLiam McVicar$1,750
5Dr. Wheat 144Robert WalshWilliam E. Riddle, Jr.Danielle Hodsdon$1,400

Fog Island was close to Brave Prospect's pace and took the lead when Brave Prospect made a mistake at the eighth fence. He led the rest of the way and won easily.

Winning Margin: 12 1/2   Winning Time: 4:48 2/5   Turf: firm

Fog Island, b. g. 2006, by Rossini out of Orchid Island, by Broad Brush. Bred by Diane P. Snowden (CA)

Fourth Race
Purse $25,000    The Washington Fine Properties Cup    Starter Allowance Hurdle    About 2 1/2 miles over National Fences
OrderHorse WgtRiderOwnerTrainerPurse
1Lake Placid 156Ross GeraghtyIrvin S. NaylorJoseph W. Delozier, III$15,000
2On The Corner 144Jacob RobertsIvy Hill Stable, LLCAlicia S. Murphy$4,500
3Mischief ***138Annie YeagerSteve YeagerDonald Yovanovich$2,500
4Sumo Power 144Mark WattsManown Kisor, Jr.Michael Berryman$1,250
5Class Brahms 138Richard BoucherMede Cahaba Stable LLCLilith Boucher$1,000
6Dugan 148Brian CrowleyWilliam L. PapeJonathan E. Sheppard$750
7Cuse *151Gus DahlKaren M. GrayKaren M. Gray 

Lake Placid was never far from the lead, took command at the third fence and won in hand as much the best. This was Lake Placid's third win at Great Meadow in three starts.

Winning Margin: 5 1/4   Winning Time: 4:45 1/5   Turf: firm

Lake Placid, b. g. 2005, by Giant's Causeway out of Saranac Lake, by Smart Strike. Bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone (Ky)

Fifth Race
Purse $75,000    The Virginia Gold Cup    Timber Stakes    About 4 miles over Timber
OrderHorse WgtRiderOwnerTrainerPurse
1Incomplete 165Joey ElliottRobert A. KinsleyAnn D. Stewart$45,000
2G'day G'day 165Carl RafterMagalen O. BryantDoug Fout$13,500
3Guts For Garters (Ire) 165Darren NagleFOXY StableSanna N. Hendriks$7,500
4Bubble Economy 165William DowlingArcadia StableJack Fisher$3,750
5Aero 165Jeff MurphyAlfred C. Griffin, Jr.Doug Fout$3,000
PUYin Yang 165Christopher ReadNoGo StableWilliam S. Meister$2,250
PUVoler Bar Nuit 165James SlaterMrs. William D. Class, Jr.William S. Meister 

When Voler Bar Nuit sprinted to an early lead, the remainder of the field was content to wait for him to come back. Voler Bar Nuit did tire; and at the head of the stretch, Incomplete, Guts for Garters, Bubble Economy and G'Day G'Day all had a chance. Incomplete was second at the second last, led over the last and held off G'Day G'Day's late charge.

Winning Margin: 3/4   Winning Time: 8:38 4/5   Turf: firm

Incomplete, b. g. 2001, by Press Card out of Sioux Lady, by Poker. Bred by Hugo Procopio (Md)

Sixth Race
Purse $20,000    The United Cup    Sport of Kings Maiden Hurdle    About 2 1/2 miles over National Fences
OrderHorse WgtRiderOwnerTrainerPurse
1Total Command (GB) 154Brian CrowleyWilliam L. PapeJonathan E. Sheppard$12,000
2Gawaarib 140Robert WalshMrs. George L. Ohrstrom, Jr.Richard L. Valentine$3,600
3Darkwatch 140Xavier AizpuruSilverton Hill LLCLeslie F. Young$2,000
4Double Eagle (Arg) 154Jacob RobertsClorevia FarmNeil R. Morris$1,000
5Brother Sy 154Roddy MackenzieArmata StablesTodd J. Wyatt$800
6Dance Raven Dance *130Gus DahlKaren M. GrayKaren M. Gray$600
PUJake's Mandate 154Joey ElliottRose Marie BogleyEdward Mulligan 
RefMr. Starr's Report 140William DowlingWoodslane FarmJack Fisher 

Total Command was reserved off the pace, made a move down the backside and around the turn, was second over the second last, led over the last and won easily.

Winning Margin: 3 3/4   Winning Time: 4:54 2/5   Turf: firm

Total Command (GB), b. g. 2007, by Sadler's Wells out of Wince, by Selkirk.