Riverdee won two at Colonial Downs Thursday morning.
Roja Redemption settled sweetly in third for Graham Watters, gradually moved forward and drew off under a motionless Watters to score for a solo win. How solo? Announcer Jason Beam declared, “Roja Redemption is extremely, extremely in front.” The son of Flintshire won by 14 1/2 lengths, geared down.
The 5-year-old has now registered three wins, three seconds and two thirds in eight starts for $73,250 since joining Riverdee and trainer Jack Fisher.
Cyber Ninja came back a race later and broke his maiden in his hurdle debut. Irish jockey Danny Mullins (of Cheltenham, etc., fame) flew in for the ride and made it look easy. The son of Arrogate settled beautifully, jumped accurately and pounced as the field left the backside. The 5-year-old won by 6 3/4 lengths for Jack Fisher.
“A nice horse. Made a little bit of a mistake at the first which put me in a little bit more out of position than I wanted to be. But once I got him jumping through the race, he jumped very well,” Mullins said. “I was trying to see what they were going to do down the back, once a few of them rushed up before we turned down the back, I said I would just pull wide. When he got daylight, his jumping brought him through very well. I didn’t have to use any petrol to get there, around the bend, I was just waiting to pull the trigger. When I asked him to go off the bend, he lengthened very well down the straight. He’s a nice horse that fella.”
Purchased in the fall after winning two races for Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Cyber Ninja improved his Riverdee record to a win and a second in three starts. He’s earned $46,600 this year.
The double moved Riverdee back to second in the NSA owner’s standings, just $24,350 behind Bruton Street-US.
