South Carolina training center graduates Shake Em Loose, Luna Belle and Water’s Edge won Stakes on March 19 and 20.

At Laurel Park on March 19, Shake Em Loose was outrun early on in the Private Terms S. falling over 7 lengths off the pace for the first ½ mile. He made a 3 wide move in the second turn making the lead at the top of the stretch. He proved best in the race to the wire winning by 1 ¾ lengths. Shake Em Loose went through the breaking process at Goree Smith’s Elloree Training Center. Finishing second in this Stakes was Joe, owned by SCTOBA member Stuart Grant.

Luna Belle won her 4^th Stakes in a row on March 19 at Laurel Park capturing the Beyond the Wire S. She stalked the leaders being 3^rd early on. Moving 4 wide during the turn for home, Luna Belle took command and proved much the best powering her way to the finish line a 3 ½ length winner. Luna Belle was developed by Goree Smith before being turned over to his brother Hamilton Smith in Maryland. Hamilton Smith is the breeder, owner and trainer of Luna Belle. The late Fred Greene and Deborah Greene are co-breeders and Deborah remains as Hamilton’s owner partner.

In his first Stakes appearance, Water’s Edge captured the Haynesfield S. at Aqueduct on March 20. This New York-bred colt learned his early lessons under the care of Donna Freyer at her Custom Care Equine operation in Camden. After being bumped at the start, Water’s Edge quickly took the lead and never looked back. In front by a ½ length after the opening ½ mile, he extended his advantage from there crossing the finish line 4 ½ lengths ahead of the rest of the field. Water’s Edge has made 8 lifetime starts winning 4 of them and finishing 2^nd in the others.

The 58^th Running of the Elloree Trials returned March 19 after a two year absence due to Covid-19. Several thousand people enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon of racing under partly cloudy skies bolstered by a high level of energy and excitement. The race card included six Thoroughbred and two Quarter Horse races.

Trainer Jason McCutchen had a big day saddling winners for his father, mother and daughter. R.B. McCutchen’s Ski Slope captured the 2-year-old filly Trial. SCTOBA Vice-President Debby McCutchen is the owner of Scooch, winner of the 3-year-old maiden Trial. The owner of the feature race of the day, The Elloree Cup, is Carson Ann McCutchen, Jason’s daughter. Stubbornkindafella proved best in that heat.

Travis Durr, owner of the Webb Carroll Training Center, saddled Lt’s Jackinthe Box, winner of the second division of the 3-year-old maiden Trial for Brody and Mason Durr, Travis and Ashley’s sons. Travis’ brother, Cody Durr, put the tack on Preacher Amos, winner of the 2-year-old colt Trial for Brian Griffin.

It was only appropriate that Goree Smith, owner of the Elloree Training Center, saddled Swayin To and Fro to win the 3 and-up maiden race for Adeline Garrett.

Photo Above: Carson Ann McCutchen's Stubbornkindafella is a winner!

Credit: Maggie Kimmitt

The 79^th Aiken Trials was celebrated by an estimated crowd of 10,000 on March 19 at the Aiken Training Track. It was an action packed day with pony races, a ladies sidesaddle race and five Thoroughbred Trials. A highlight of the day was the induction of Richard L. Duchossois into the Aiken Training Track Ambassador’s Club.

In two of the Trials, 2-year-olds ran a quarter of a mile. Time for Ta Kela, owned by Allen Poindexter and trained by Cary Frommer, won the Von Stade Trophy. The Gaver Trophy was captured by Shinook, owned by Jett North Racing, trained by Marcus Ryan and ridden by his wife, Crystal.

Two of the Trials for older horses were won by horses trained by Peter Pugh. The Coward Trophy went to Livingston, owned by Cherry Knoll Farm, and the Iselin Hall of Fame Trophy was won by Say It Loud, also owned by Cherry Knoll Farm. Both were ridden by the well known steeplechase jockey Bernie Dalton.

The City of Aiken Trophy, always known as the feature race of the day, was won by the Brad Stauffer-trained Dr. Marbooz, ridden by Kathleen Hogan. Dr. Marbooz is a homebred for Carolyn Karlson’s Sisu Racing Stable.

Photo above: Time for Ta Kela charges to the wire.

Credit: Barry Bornstein

After a two year hiatus due to the pandemic and the construction of a new site, the 54^th Annual Aiken Spring Steeplechase was held on March 26. This marked the beginning of the 2022 National Steeplechase schedule. The sun was bright, the wind was breezy and the crowd was enthusiastic.

The racing action began with a flat training race won by Maranto Manor LLC’s Duckett’s Grove, trained by Leslie Young and ridden by Thomas Garner. In an exciting finish, Duckett’s Grove outkicked the field by a neck.

Leslie Young made it two-in-a-row as the winning trainer saddling Thomas Rice’s Bee Major to win the second race, a Maiden Hurdle. Bee Major was ridden by Harrison Beswick. They crossed the finish line 1 ¼ lengths in front. 

NRQ Stable’s Critcize captured the third race going two miles and one furlong over National Fences. All four hurdle races covered the same distance. Criticize is trained by Neil Morris and was ridden by Graham Watters. He won by a ½ length.

The feature race of the day, the $30,000 Imperial Cup was captured by Paul Willis’ Boulette who is trained by Keri Brion. Parker Hendriks was in the saddle. Boulette was much the best winning by 6 ¼ lengths.

The final race of the day, a Handicap Hurdle, was won by Petticoats Loose Farm’s Gaye Breeze (IRE). Ridden by Sean McDermott, who is also the trainer, Gaye Breeze (IRE) hit the finish line a ½ length in front.

The 87^th running of the Carolina Cup took place at the Springdale Race Course in Camden on April 2. Six races took place – five over National Fences and one training flat race. All of the hurdle races were contested at a distance of two miles and one furlong.

SCTOBA member Arch Kingsley saddled three winners on the day. Arch put the tack on Richard Colton’s High Mount (IRE) for the first race. Ridden by Gerard Galligan, High Mount (IRE) proved much the best winning by 14 ½ lengths. The same group of connections came back to win the third race, a Maiden Hurdle, with Mr. Alec, who crossed the finish line 6 ½ lengths in front of the field. Mr. Alec was trained in Camden earlier in his career by Kirkwood Stables’ SCTOBA member Kip Elser. Kingsley ended the day saddling Hurricana Farm’s Sherkali (IRE) who won the training flat race by 3 ½ lengths. Hurricana Farm is owned by SCTOBA member Pierre Manigault. Gerard Galligan was again in the saddle for Kingsley.

Trainer Leslie Young also had a multi-winner day saddling Ashwell Stable LLC’s Cup of Aiken in the second race, a Maiden Hurdle for fillies and mares who proved best by 10 lengths. Young also put the tack on Leipers Fork Steeplechasers’ Court Ruler (IRE), winner of the fourth race, a Ratings Handicap Hurdle event by 2 ½ lengths. Harrison Beswick rode Cup of Aiken and Thomas Garner was the rider of Court Ruler (IRE).

The feature race of the day, the $50,000 Carolina Cup, was captured by Historic Heart (IRE), owned by Atlantic Friends Racing and trained by Keri Brion. Parker Hendriks rode Historic Heart (IRE) to a 3 length victory.

---- Congratulations to Ted Hoover, a past President of SCTOBA, whose homebred, Paper Mansion, is a maiden no more! Paper Mansion (Tu Brutus (CHI) – Gymnast Jadie by Concord Point) stalked the leader the opening ½ mile before taking control in the stretch to win by 1 ¾ lengths at PARX on March 16. This filly is trained by Kentucky Derby-winning trainer John Servis and was ridden by Frankie Pennington.

---- We would love to see pictures of recent foal arrivals – jack@eclipsetbpartners.com.

Now is the time. Working together makes for a better industry. Please join and support South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. We thank you for your past support of SCTOBA and encourage you to renew for 2022. Click on renewal form here or it can be found on our website below.