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Snipes has successful day

AIKEN - Nekia Farm owner and horse trainer Bruce Snipes walked away from Saturday's Aiken Trials a happy man.

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Jockey Vanessa Feliciano (middle) rides Catered to victory in the fifth trial at the Aiken Trials in Aiken. John Hamilton (left), riding Autumn Memories, finished second Saturday afternoon.
Michael Holahan/Augusta Chronicle
His filly Ms. Behrens started the day with a second-place finish in the first trial, just missing The Gaver Trophy in a quarter mile sprint for 2-year-old newcomers.

His horses then won three out of the next five races, starting with Private Nekia (Aiken spelled backwards), who captured The Coward Trophy in the second quarter mile trial.

"It's a little compensation for all the hard work," Snipes said.

Three-year-old Juniper Jack followed with a win in the fourth trial to capture The Von Stade Trophy.

And the icing came in the sixth and most prestigious trial, when 3-year-old Victor Watz ran away with the City of Aiken Trophy.

It was a gratifying victory given the horse's past knee problems, Snipes said.

"I think I've got him past it," he added.

Dogwood Stable followed with two victories of its own, including an inspirational showing from 3-year-old Catered in the fifth trial to capture The Iselin Hall of Fame Trophy.

Word had spread before the race that Catered was the horse to beat. Trainer Ron Stevens played down the hype, but was one of the first to cheer when the horse ran away with the win.

The victory came despite two ankle surgeries in the past year.

"She dug in and wants to be a racehorse," Stevens said. "That was a heck of a ride."

In all, Stevens trained three first place finishers.

Reach Josh Gelinas at (803) 648-1395, ext. 113 or josh.gelinas@augustachronicle.com.

First trail - The Gaver Trophy - quarter mile

1. Ready Again - 24 1/5 seconds; owner, Dogwood Stable; trainer, Ron Stevens; jockey, Vanessa Feliciano.

2. Ms. Behrens; owner, Nekia Farm; trainer, Bruce Snipes; jockey, John Luzzi.

3. Idle Quest; owner, Stonerside Stable; trainer, Tim Jones; jockey, Amy Gore.

Second trial - The Coward Trophy - Quarter mile

1. Private Nekia - 24 seconds; owner, Nekia Farm; trainer, Bruce Snipes; jockey, John Luzzi.

2. Blotto; owner, Dogwood Stable; trainer, Ron Stevens; jockey, Billy Bernard.

3. South of Broad; owner, Stonerside Stable; trainer, Tim Jones; jockey, Amy Gore.

Third trial - The Post Trophy - quarter mile

1. Caught in the Zip - 23 2/5 seconds; owner, Azalea Stables; trainer, Ron Stevens; jockey, Victor Negrete.

2. Out of Cash; owner, Azalea Stables; trainer, Alberto Negrete; jockey, Amanda Casey.

3. Songandflash; owner, Dogwood Stable; trainer, Ron Stevens; jockey, Vanessa Feliciano.

Fourth trial - The Von Stade Trophy - four and one half furlongs

1. Juniper Jack - 54 seconds; owner, Nekia Farm; trainer, Bruce Snipes; jockey, John Luzzi.

2. Dixie Dazzler; owner, Marshall Lamb; trainer, Marshall Lamb; jockey, Vanessa Feliciano.

3. Somebody Smart; owner, Stonerside Stable; trainer, Tim Jones; jockey, Amy Gore.

Fifth trial - The Iselin Hall of Fame Trophy - four and one half furlongs

1. Catered - 55 1/5 seconds; owner, Dogwood Stable; trainer, Ron Stevens; jockey, Vanessa Feliciano.

2. Autumn Memories; owner, Helen Andrews; trainer, Anne Mitchell; jockey, John Hamilton.

3. Golden Leaf; owner, MiclKip Knelman ; trainer, Tim Jones; jockey, Hilary Pridham.

Sixth trial - The City of Aiken Trophy - four and one half furlongs

1. Victor Watz - 54 seconds; owner, Nekia Farm; trainer, Bruce Snipes; jockey, John Luzzi.

2. Cripple Creek; owner, Gregory D. Hawkins; trainer, W.C. Freeman; jockey, John Hamilton.

3. Don't Not; owner, Barbara E. Baranello; trainer, Lou Baranello; jockey, Alice R. Knowles.



Web posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005


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