A well-matched field will line up Saturday for the $25,000 Block House optional allowance hurdle, the featured race of the 70th annual Block House Races in Tryon, N.C. First post time is 2 p.m.

Racing Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard entered Bill Pape’s Powerofone, who will be making his first hurdle start of the 2016 season in the 2 3/8-mile Block House. The A.P. Indy gelding finished second in a Ratings Handicap at the Montpelier Hunt Races in Virginia to close out the 2015 season. Gerard Galligan has the mount.

Trainer Julie Gomena will send out Bonnie Rye Stables’ Arrakis, who finished sixth in the Georgia Cup optional allowance hurdle on April 23. Mark Watts will ride.

Gil Johnston’s Share Out will have the services of leading jockey Ross Geraghty for the Block House. The Empire Maker gelding finished seventh in a Ratings Handicap at the Middleburg Spring Races in Virginia on April 23, his first start in almost two years.

Completing the field is B’More Hopeful Stable’s So Outspoken, who finished fourth in the Budweiser Imperial Cup optional allowance hurdle at the season-opening Aiken Spring Steeplechase on March 26. In his next start, Jazz Napravnik-trained So Outspoken fell in the Sandhills Cup optional allowance hurdle at the Stoneybrook Steeplechase in Raeford, N.C.

Here is the field for the $25,000 Block House optional allowance hurdle.

Share Out. 2008 b. g., Empire Maker—Yoursmineours, by Belong to Me. Owner: Gillian Johnston. Trainer: Todd Wyatt. Jockey: Ross Geraghty. Breeder: Mr. and Mrs. John R. Williams (Ky.) 2016 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2015 record: No starts. In first start in almost two years, finished seventh in a Ratings Handicap at Middleburg Spring. Won maiden hurdle victory in his only previous start over fences, at 2014 Virginia Gold Cup. (115)

Powerofone. 2009 b. g., A.P. Indy—Byzantine, by Quiet American. Owner: Bill Pape. Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard. Jockey: Gerard Galligan. Breeder: Elkhorn Creek Farm (Ky.) 2015 record: 6-0-1-0, $4,350. 2014 record: 3-0-0-0, $0. Finished second in Montpelier handicap and was pulled up in Colonial Cup Ratings Handicap at end of 2015 season. (114)

So Outspoken. 2010 b. g., Bernardini—Green Door, by Danzig. Owner: B More Hopeful Stables. Trainer: Jazz Napravnik. Jockey: Open. Breeder: Austin and Brenda Paul (Ont.) 2016 record: 2-0-0-0, $1,500. 2015 record: 11-2-0-0, $32,950. Finished fourth in 2016 Budweiser Imperial Cup optional allowance hurdle at Aiken Spring, then lost rider in Stoneybrook Steeplechase Ratings Handicap. Finished seventh in Colonial Cup Ratings Handicap to close out busy 2015 season. Won Stoneybrook maiden and Atlanta Steeplechase Ratings Handicap. (108)

Arrakis. 2007 dk. b. or br. g., Royal Academy—Quinn, by Theatrical (Ire). Owner: Bonnie Rye Stables. Trainer: Julie Gomena. Jockey: Mark Watts. Breeder: Iron County Farms (Ky.). 2016 record: 1-0-0-0, $1,050. 2015 record: 8-0-2-1, $15,550. 2014 record: No starts. Finished sixth in 2016 Georgia Cup optional allowance hurdle. Finished fourth in International Gold Cup’s 2015 David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial (Gr. 3), then fourth in Charleston Cup. Second in Virginia Fall Ratings Handicap after refusing to start in Monmouth allowance hurdle. Returned to the races after missing 2014 season and finished third in Aiken Spring optional allowance hurdle, then was second in Foxfield Spring’s Daniel Van Clief optional allowance hurdle. (115)

Written by Don Clippinger
National Steeplechase Association
and submitted by the Tryon Riding & Hunt Club