A well-balanced field of seven will line up Saturday, April 23, for the $25,000 Carolina Cup Block House, featured race of the 65th annual Block House Races in Tryon, N.C. First post time for the four-race program is 2 p.m.

Heading the field is Bill Pape’s Lead Us Not, the National Steeplechase Association’s reigning claiming champion.

Trained by Racing Hall of Fame member Jonathan Sheppard, the Royal Anthem gelding won an optional allowance race at Saratoga Race Course, finished second in another and then took third in the $250,000 Grand National (Gr. 1) at Far Hills, N.J. Brian Crowley will be in the saddle for Lead Us Not’s first 2011 start.

Move Up Stable’s Quiet Approval also will be making his 2011 debut in the Carolina First Block House. The Quiet American gelding easily won an allowance race at the Saratoga Open House in July and then finished fourth in the $100,000 Helen Haskell Sampson (Gr. 1) at Monmouth Park last September. Trainer Kathy McKenna named Carl Rafter to ride.

Canardly had his best year ever in 2010, winning an optional starter allowance at the International Gold Cup in Virginia last fall after being claimed by trainer Edward Mulligan for owner Karen Eyles. Liam McVicar has the mount in the Carolina First Block House.

Also making their season debuts are Julia Thieriot’s Fantastic Foe, winner of an optional allowance on the Virginia Gold Cup program last May, and Northern Bay, who won his only 2011 start, a Philadelphia Park optional allowance, in June. Northern Bay races for the estate of Cary W. Jackson.

Owner-trainer Dave Washer is making a quick turnaround with Junood, who started his 2011 season Owner-trainer Dave Washer is making a quick turnaround with Junood, who started his 2011 season with a third-place finish in a $15,000 claiming race at the Atlanta Steeplechase on April 16.

Randleston Farm’s Spy in the Sky, entered for the Carolina First Block House as well as the Temple Gwathmey (Gr. 3) at the Middleburg Spring Races in Virginia, started his 2011 season with a third-place finish in the Carolina First Carolina Cup (Gr. 3) in Camden, S.C., on April 2.

–Laura Weicker,
executive director,
Tryon Riding & Hunt Club