Front-running The Insider captures the Conceal Imperial Cup during the Aiken Spring Steeplechase

Mar. 25—A front-running strategy paid off for The Insider and his jockey during the $35,000 Conceal Imperial Cup during the Aiken Spring Steeplechase.

After charging to the lead early in the 2 1/16-mile contest over jumps, "we dictated the whole race," said Parker Hendriks, who guided the 4-year-old gelding to a three-length victory Saturday at the Aiken Steeplechase Racecourse.

To begin with, "we rocked and rolled," Hendriks continued. "He really has a quite high cruising speed. Then I got a nice breather into him after about a mile and switched him off for about a half-mile."

The opportunity to relax proved to be a good thing because late in the Imperial Cup, when The Insider's only two rivals, Topic Changer and Clara Belle, closed in to challenge him for the lead, the bay gelding still had plenty of energy remaining.

"Going over last jump I could hear Bernie Dalton on Clara Belle next to me," Hendriks said. "After we landed, I just had a little peek behind me, but I knew my guy was really, really fast. He sprinted away from them."

The Insider's winning time was 3:41 1/5, which was a course record.

"He jumped great," Hendriks said. "He missed one jump down the backside — he didn't get very high over it — but it didn't slow him down at all. He's very nimble."

Clara Belle finished second, 5 1/4 lengths ahead of Topic Changer, who had captured the Holiday Cup last October during the Aiken Fall Steeplechase.

Keri Brion is the trainer of all three Imperial Cup competitors.

Hudson River Farms, Madaket Stables and R and K Racing own The Insider, who was bred in Ireland.

"We were out for redemption today," said Hendriks, who was referring to The Insider's misfortune in the Alston Cup Stakes during the Steeplechase of Charleston at the end of the National Steeplechase Association's 2022 season.

"Someone bumped him and he fell," Hendriks said.

Topic Changer won that day by 13 1/2 lengths and later was honored by as the National Steeplechase Association's leading 3-year-old.

Aiken Steeplechase Association President Frank Mullins owns Topic Changer in partnership with his son-in-law, Jordan Wycoff, and Upland Flats Racing.

Wycoff also is the owner of Clara Belle, who stumbled and lost her rider, Jamie Bargary, in the Alston Cup Stakes.

"Topic Changer fought well, but he didn't make it (win) this time," said Mullins of the colt's Imperial Cup performance. "The Insider is a great horse. I'm happy for him."

The Aiken Spring Steeplechase kicked off the National Steeplechase Association's 2023 season.

"It rained early, but the sun came out and it ended up being a perfect day," said Mullins, who also is a member of the National Steeplechase Association's board of directors. "We're having fun. That's what it needs to be all about."

There were five races in addition to the Imperial Cup on the Aiken Spring Steeplechase's card.

Hendriks and Brion also teamed up Saturday to win the $15,000 G.H. Bostwick, a 2 1/16-mile race over jumps, with Cross Border.

Kirk Wycoff (father of Jordan Wycoff) and his family's Three Diamonds Farm own the 9-year-old gelding.

Cross Border defeated Be Yourself by 4 3/4 lengths while turning in a time of 3:48 2/5.

Be Yourself, a 5-year-old gelding, is owned by the Flying Elvis Stable of Adam Newman, who splits his time between Aiken and Saratoga Springs, New York.

"I'm thrilled with the way he performed," Newman said. "It was only his second jump race, so he obviously has a little bit of a learning curve. He jumped well, he tried hard and he finished strong. I'm very proud of him."

Trainer Arch Kingsley Jr. saddled two winners, Cainudothetwist and High Mounte on the Aiken Spring Steeplechase program.

Cainudothetwist, owned by Kingsley and ridden by the trainer's daughter, Taylor Kingsley, captured the James W. Maloney, which didn't offer a purse, by three lengths.

The 6-year-old mare covered 1 1/4 miles on the flat in 2:10.

Richard C. Colton Jr.'s High Mounte cruised to a 10 3/4 -length victory in the $20,000 Charles S. Bird III over jumps.

Ridden by Graham Watters, the 8-year-old gelding completed 2 1/8 miles in 3:49 4/5.

"We came here with two horses, and we're leaving with two wins, so that's a really good day," said Kingsley, who is based in Camden. "My relationship with Aiken and Aiken steeplechasing is a long one. This was always one of my favorite places to come in the spring and fall as a rider, and it's been good to me as a trainer, too.

"I love the Aiken races," he added. "The new guard here has done such a fantastic job with the racecourse. I applaud them, and I'm really excited to see what the future brings."

Jockey Harrison Beswick also had a successful afternoon during the Aiken Spring Steeplechase, guiding Seismic Wave to a 1 1/4 -length win in the $25,000 Ford D. Conger and riding West Newton to a 3 1/4 -length victory in the $30,000 Joe R. Blanchard.

Both races were over jumps.

Owned by William Russell and trained by Neil Morris, Seismic Wave had a winning time of 3:50 4/5 in the Ford D. Conger.

Morris is based in Virginia, but brought horses this year to the Aiken Training Track for the winter.

Upland Flats Racing and John W. Lewis' West Newton completed 2 1/8 miles in the Joe R. Blanchard in 3:50.

Ricky Hendriks trains West Newton.

Hendriks, a former steeplechase jockey, is the father of Parker Hendriks.

The younger Hendriks was the National Steeplechase Association's top rider by wins (25) and money earned ($713,850) in 2022.

Brion was the leading trainer by money won ($1,106,950) last year, and she ranked second in the trainer standings for number of wins (33).