Post-Race Analysis:
New Kent, Virginia - July 13, 2008: Four Schools (Ire) completed
his transformation from $20,000 claimer to graded stakes winner
with a course record-setting 6½ length victory in the $50,000 Grade
III David L. "Zeke" Ferguson Memorial at Colonial Downs. The 4-year-old
filly Class Shadow closed from last to finish second by a nose over
Duke of Earl.
Four Schools was claimed from trainer Barbara McWade for $20,000
in a three-way shake at Fair Hill earlier this year. Two straight
thirds in allowance company for new trainer Richard Valentine and
owner Mrs. George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. gave just a hint of what would
come at odds of 26-1 in the Ferguson.
Sunshine Numbers blasted out to set a very fast pace for the first
1½ miles as Four Schools and jockey Carl Rafter sat 15 lengths back
in second throughout the early stages of the 2¼-mile race. Four
Schools ranged up to take the lead from a tiring Sunshine Numbers
down the backstretch the last time and opened up to lead by six
lengths around the far turn. Four Schools jumped the last cleanly
and powered home to win unchallenged in 3:55.35. Swoop and Soar
set the old course record of 3:56 in 2006.
The Ferguson was Four Schools' first stakes score. The 6-year-old
Raise a Grand gelding has now won three times from 21 lifetime starts
while bankrolling more than $85,000.
Valentine also won the other steeplechase race at Colonial Downs
today, sending out Bee Charmer to an impressive maiden victory in
the first race on the card.
"I was driving down here thinking my luck had to change, but I
didn't expect that to happen," Valentine told the NSA after the
race. "He (Four Schools) is pure class and an easy horse to train.
We added Lasix and I think that seemed to move him up. It took him
a couple of starts after we claimed him for him to realize that
he wasn't going to bleed."
Jumping Around: Sound Blaster was a late scratch
from the Ferguson when he refused to start…..Run for the 11th time,
the Ferguson capped the summer steeplechase program at Colonial
Downs as the steeplechase action shifts to Saratoga next weekend
for the Open House meet on July 20th followed by a steeplechase
race every Thursday at the historic Adirondack track.
Edited from Colonial Downs and NSA press releasse.
The complete order of finish for the Grade III Zeke Ferguson is
set forth below.
Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Four Schools (Ire) |
142 |
Rafter |
Richard L. Valentine |
Mrs. G. L. Ohrstrom, Jr. |
|
2
|
Class Shadow |
130 |
Boucher |
Lilith Boucher |
Mede Cahaba Stable |
|
3
|
Duke of Earl (Ire) |
142 |
Young |
Jack Fisher |
Mrs. Henry F. Stern |
|
4
|
Free Admission |
146 |
Hodsdon |
Jonathan Sheppard |
William L. Pape |
|
5
|
Dr. Bloomer |
154 |
R. Walsh |
Jonathan Sheppard |
Calvin Houghland |
|
6
|
Motel Affair |
142 |
Wheelen |
Thomas H. Voss |
Blackwood Stables |
|
7
|
Run The Light |
142 |
McCarron |
Neil R. Morris |
Kinross Farm |
|
8
|
Pleasant Pick |
142 |
W. Haynes |
Arch Kingsley, Jr. |
High Hope Stables |
|
PU
|
Chess Board (GB) |
150 |
J. Murphy |
Doug Fout |
Eldon Farm Racing |
|
PU
|
Sunshine Numbers |
146 |
Foley |
Arch Kingsley, Jr. |
Mrs. George M. Sensor |
|
PU
|
Swimming River |
146 |
Slater |
Paul Rowland |
Long Lane Farm |
|
Scr
|
Sound Blaster (Ire) |
146 |
Aizpuru |
Jack Fisher |
Bear Creek Stable |
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Pedigree of Winner:
Click
here for Four Schools' 5-cross pedigree.
Pedigrees compliments of PedigreeQuery.com
Previous Winners:
| YEAR |
FIRST (Age) |
JOCKEY |
lbs. |
SECOND (Age) |
lbs. |
THIRD (Age) |
lbs. |
|
2007
|
Moneytrain (8) |
Hodsdon |
146 |
Class Vantage |
142 |
Charlie Whiskey |
146 |
|
2006
|
Good Night Shirt (5) |
Aizpuru |
146 |
Class Vantage (4) |
133 |
Mark the Shark |
146 |
|
2005
|
Paradise's Boss (5) |
Aizpuru |
146 |
McDynamo(8) |
154 |
Understood |
154 |
|
2004
|
Racey Dreamer (5) |
McCarron |
154 |
Shady Valley (5) |
142 |
Saitensohn (Ger) (6) |
142 |
|
2003
|
Anofferucantrefuse (6) |
Murphy |
146 |
Tres Touche (6) |
154 |
Praise The Prince (8) |
154 |
|
2002
|
Invest West (7) |
B. Miller |
150 |
Tres Touche (5) |
158 |
P.C. Plod |
158 |
|
2001
|
Indispensable (7) |
Delozier |
145 |
Avanico (9) |
144 |
Al Skywalker (8) |
154 |
|
2000
|
Spring Salute (6) |
Thornton |
142 |
Al Skywalker (7) |
140 |
Pompeyo (6) |
148 |
|
1999
|
Pinkie Swear (5) |
Clancy |
144 |
Ninepins (12) |
146 |
Campanile (5) |
154 |
|
1998
|
Flat Top (5) |
Patterson |
142 |
Approaching Squall (4) |
142 |
Mario (7) |
150 |
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
