Maryland O-T-R team controls Rokeby Bowl

Sports
By Betsy Parker
Source: Fauquier Times-Democrat
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26 2008

Incomplete might head next to Chronicle, Gold Cup

By Betsy Parker

Times-Democrat Staff Writer

At the June 1863 Battle of Upperville, the delaying tactics of Confederate cavalry officer J.E.B. Stuart denied federal commanders valued intelligence of enemy objectives as units from both sides raced north toward Gettysburg for a date with fate.

Though history did not record a "winner" of the bloody Battle of Upperville, historians credit the Virginia horsemen victory for valor and bravery under fire.

Saturday, nearly 145 years later, northern invaders crossed the Potomac and at last turned the tide.

At the March 22 Piedmont Foxhounds Point-to-Point, Maryland-based Incomplete drew off for a commanding victory in the featured Rokeby Bowl, contested over the very same ground where Stuart's well-mounted and nearly indefatigable Army of Northern Virginia cavalry met hapless Commander Alfred Pleasonton's mounted unit of the Army of the Potomac.

Though the result of the three-day Battle of Upperville skirmish are recorded as "inconclusive," Incomplete's March 22 victory was anything but.

Robert Kinsley's Maryland-bred, -owned, -trained and -ridden Incomplete made it a superfecta for the Maryland sneak attack in the 3-1/2-mile timber feature, rating kindly, jumping flawlessly and making a devastating late move that none in the eight-horse field could withstand.

"The [long] distance is not ideal for this horse," said jockey Charlie Fenwick III, son of America's all-time leading timber rider, retired Charlie Fenwick Jr., and of trainer Ann Stewart. "But he rated well early, and really had a great kick."

"He was easy to hold in the first couple of miles," the Glyndon, Md. resident said.

Incomplete runs in a kimberwicke, a strong straight-bar bit with a curb chain as part of Ann Stewart's "secret weaponry" to help hold the often intractable son of Press Card. "He was fine until two [fences] from home, but then he said 'it's time to go.' And we went."

Though any of the seven still racing at the stone wall re-entering main Salem Farm on the north end of the course could have won at this point. Incomplete unleashed a powerful kick that left competitors vying for second.

"He's a real aggressive horse," Fenwick said. "Mom does a great job with him, hunting him all the time and helping him learn to wait, and rate."

Incomplete was nine lengths clear at the wire. Private Attack, another Maryland horse, was second.

For 12 years the Rokeby Bowl has remained in Northern Virginia, gracing the mantelpiece of local owners; the last time a horse not Virginia-trained won the silver cup was in 1996 when Pennsylvania-based trainer-rider Paddy Neilson won with Sulawesi. Still, that one had strong ties to the commonwealth — owner Felix Neusch lives in Charlottesville.

The Rokeby Bowl is an important stop on Virginia's point-to-point circuit in that the distance — 3-1/2 miles — is a great early-season endurance test for horses aiming for bigger targets later on the calendar.

The four-mile Maryland Hunt Cup, four weeks later, and four-mile Virginia Gold Cup, six weeks later, rank as obvious directions.

Fenwick claims not to know his mother's mind, but allows that the Gold Cup could be on Incomplete's dance card.

"We take it week to week," said Fenwick who rides a limited number of "experienced horses" in races, he said, in deference to his amateur status, his professional life in commercial real estate and his young family back in Maryland.

"But I love the Gold Cup [a race his father won in 1976, '79 and '86]. It would be fun to have a horse in it."

Incomplete, purchased from Fenwick's uncle Bruce Fenwick (who won the Rokeby Bowl in '68 and '78), won his first point-to-point over timber last March at the Elkridge Harford Hunt meet in Maryland.

Kinsley is joint-master of that club (a chore he shares with top steeplechase trainer Tom Voss.)

Incomplete followed up with an amateur timber victory at the National Steeplechase Association-sanctioned Grand National races in Maryland in April (with jockey Blake Curry), but had been away from the racecourse since.

"He hunted a ton this season," Fenwick said, pointing to the gelding's obvious fitness. "That really puts a foundation on a horse."

In the day's other races, another Maryland combination of owner-trainer Jack Griswold and rider James Stierhoff teamed to win the maiden timber with Native Mark, and the foxhunters timber with And The Eagle Flys. Series leader Royal We went off course.

Middleburg's Don Yovanovich's Inca Colony continued his domination of the ladies timber division with a 20-length victory in the three-mile contest.

Division leader Molly Forlano was up for the gelding's second win in the Piedmont race (he also won here in 2006) and second so far this season (he won at Casanova last month.) Yovanovich also saddled his own In No Time (Jeff Murphy) to win the maiden flat race.

AT AIKEN: At Saturday's National Steeplechase Association sanctioned kick-off in Aiken, S.C., Virginia-based pro Carl Rafter steered Polaris Stable's Preemptive Strike to victory in the featured $45,000 Imperial Cup hurdle stakes.

Hip Hop was second with Danielle Hodsdon, with Gliding (Paddy Young up) third. Gliding, trained in The Plains by Doug Fout, used the race as a stepping stone to a $1 million invitational hurdle stakes in Japan next month.

Results

George Robert Slater memorial maiden timber. 3 miles. Time: 6:14 4/5. 1. Native Mark, o/Jack Griswold, r/James Stierhoff; 2. Hanko, o/Susan Mills Stone, r/Billy Santoro; 3. Freddie's Fortune, o/George Slater, r/Jeff Murphy. 5 started.

C.Reed Thomas memorial owner-rider timber. 3 miles. Time: 6:29 3/5. 1. Westbound Road, o/Lucy Stable, r/George Hundt Jr.; 2. Bien Allure, o/r Jim Whitner; 3. Assembly, o/r Matt Hatcher.

Foxhunters timber. 3 miles. Time: 6:31 3/5. 1. And The Eagle Flys, o/Jack Griswold, r/James Stierhoff. 2 started, 1 off course.

Thomas and Virginia Beach memorial ladies timber. 3 miles. Time: 6:39. 1. Inca Colony, o/Don Yovanovich, r/Molly Forlano; 2. Takin Inventory, o/Mrs. Charles Fenwick Jr., r/Emily Fenwick; 3. Tacloban, o/Rosbrian Farm, r/Tara Elmore.

Rokeby Bowl open timber. 3 1/2 miles. Time: 7:25 2/5. 1. Incomplete, o/Robert Kinsley, r/Charles Fenwick III; 2. Private Attack, o/Sportsmans Hall, r/Billy Santoro; 3. Hall of Angels, o/Emery Taylor, r/Calvin McCormack. 8 started, 1 pulled up.

Maiden flat. 1 1/4 miles. Time: 2:06. 1. In No Time, o/Don Yovanovich, r/Jeff Murphy; 2. Sonic Charm, o/Rusty Cline, r/Bruce Daley; 3. Aquila D'Oro, o/Bruce Smart Jr., r/Calvin McCormack. 10 started.

Col Dulany memorial open flat. 1 1/4 miles. Time: 2:05 1/5. 1. Smart Account, o/Randy Rouse, r/Calvin McCormack; 2. Marino Feliz, o/Gary Baker, r/Nick Carter; 3. Guerrero Don, o/EMO Stables, r/Jeff Murphy. 8 started.

Virginia-bred turf. Purse: $2,000. 1 1/4 miles. Time: 2:01 4/5. 1. Roseville Run, o/Eric Myer, r/Gregg Ryan; 2. Slavic's Gold, o/Andrea Russell, r/Forest Boyce; 3. Tatjana's Salute, o/Jalin Stable, r/Melanie Williams. 10 started.

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