VA-BRED MECKLENBURG WINS GENESEE VALLEY HUNT CUP

(From National Steeplechase) Rosbrian Farm’s (Virginia-bred) Mecklenburg set the pace with Radio Flyer in the $25,000 Genesee Valley Hunt Cup and drew away in the late stages to win the 3 1/2-mile timber stakes by 1 3/4 lengths on Saturday, Oct. 13. Mark Beecher was in the saddle for trainer Tara Elmore.

Augustin Stables’ Radio Flyer finished second under Darren Nagle, and Mary Motion’s Woodmont finished third. Taking the fourth spot in a field of seven was Armata Stables’ Embarrassed.

Mecklenburg entered the Genesee Valley Hunt Cup from a good second in the $50,000 Mason Houghland Memorial timber stakes at Nashville’s Iroquois Steeplechase on May 12. 

The Mecke gelding collected his maiden timber victory in the Benjamin H. Murray Memorial allowance race at Maryland’s Grand National meet on April 21. He ran the Genesee Valley Hunt Cup’s distance in 7:33.40 on firm ground.

Beecher also rode Daniel Baker’s Sky Count to a nose victory over Bug Eyed Willy in the Martha S. Wadsworth Memorial, a maiden timber race. William Meister trained the winner.