SENECA, Md,--Mark Beecher trained and rode David Belt, Jr.'s Carnival Cat to win the $2,500 Preakness Novice Timber race at Potomac Hunt Races on May 20.
Carnival Cat won by 4 lengths over Armata Stables' Pincer Movement, trained by Stephanie Moore and ridden by Eric Poretz.
Carnival Cat led all the way, turning back challenges by Pincer Movement and Randolph P. Rouse Trust's Willie's Mojo, trained by Donald Bourke and ridden by Paul O'Neill, who finished third.
Beecher also trained and rode Heather Austin's Ray de Light, who lost by a neck to Be Great, owned and trained by Diana Gillam and ridden by Keating in the $7,500 Open Timber.
Ouroboros' Sumo Power, trained by Forest Kelly and ridden by Mackenzie Rosman, led in the 3 1/4 mile race until fading in the last quarter mile to finish third while Be Great and Ray de Light battled to the wire.
Leslie Young saddled two winners at Potomac, including the featured $7,500 Preakness Open Hurdle and the $1,000 Maiden Hurdle.
EMILY ASTOR'S Star Glitter (Fr), ridden by Eddie Keating, won the sixth race, the Open Hurdle, by 2 1/2 lengths over Rosbrian Farm's Tay Lane (Ire), trained by Ricky Hendriks and ridden by Ross Geraghty.
Star Glitter dueled with Morning Star Farm's Needle in the Hay, trained by Hendriks and ridden by Keri Brion, for much of the race.
When Needle in the Hay faded, Star Glittler took over the lead and easily held off Tay Lane, who had a late rally.
That was Keating's third win on the card.
Young also trained Carol Atterbury's Makkadangddang, ridden by Keating, who won the $1,000 Maiden Hurdle by 2 1/2 lengths over Jennifer Taylor's Tiz Tasty Too, trained by Carl Rafter and ridden by Archie MacAuley.
Third placed Mr. Brightside ran with Makkadongdong until, in the last quarter mile of the two mile race Makkadongdong moved to the lead and pulled away in the stretch.
Beverly Steinman's Market Alley, trained by Doug Fout and ridden by Sean McDermott, won the Open Flat race, and Joe Davies saddled Charles Noelle and Blythe Davies' Rollforward, ridden by MacAuley, to win the Amateur Open Flat race.