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every bit the tractable amateur ‘chaser at Thornton Hill, racing comfortably in front of the five-horse field to turn back a late challenge from William Russell’s Paddy’s Run.
Miss Waterman strengthened her hold as the circuit’s leading rider, an award she won in ’95. She additionally received free swimming sessions from the sponsoring Middleburg Swim Center as the day’s leading trainer. Adding points to her tally was Ky. Mint Julep, who repeated his Casanova score last week with an easy win in ladies timber competition to post the fastest time by far for the 2 1/2 miles — 4:48. Ky. Mint Julep and High Speed Drill had both won at Rappahannock last term, and each looked once again to relish the mountainside course and the good-to-soft footing.
Rappahannock dodged a bullet from Mother Nature when a predicted weekend snowfall proved insignificant. Early rains slicked the turns though, and several runners slipped and fell while negotiating the steep bend third from the last. The races were otherwise fall free.
Middleburg’s Kinross Farm and trainer-rider Neil Morris posted a double on the day, winning first with flat runner Baba Babka in his ‘96 racecourse bow. The gelding nosed out Sapphire and Gold at the wire in the 5/8ths-mile turf contest. Kinross’ Mihmaz had an easier time winning the open timber. Mr. Morris, an English native who is the farm trainer and often rides for the stable, allowed the son of Icecapade to sit off the frantic early pace set by Brooks Durkee on Loafer’s Glory. Getting the strategic inside of the slippery second from the last bend, Mihmaz accelerated to take command by the final fence and pulled away for a comfortable 12-length score.
“His last win was in the [Hunt Course]race at Great Meadow,” said Kinross owner Zohar Ben-Dov. The flashy near-black gelding then placed over timber at Columbus, Ga., in November. Mr. Morris said that a return to the Hunt Course at Great Meadow’s Virginia Gold Cup meet in May was probably in the gelding’s future.
Other winners on the day included Bradley Gable and his Roman Tent in another repeat victory in the fox hunters’ timber, replicating their ‘95 score. Roman Tent’s trainer Donald Yovanovich also saddled his own Squires Keep to win the 1 1/4 mile flat race. The foxhunters turf was won by Donald Maley on his Four on the Floor. First-timer over timber The Centurian, an entry of Hamilton’s
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