HUNT VALLEY, Md.--Doc Cebu continued his win streak at Shawan Downs in Hunt Valley on Sept. 29 by beating pace setting Top Man Michael by 3 1/2 lengths in the $25,000 Open Timber at 3 1/8 miles.
Charlie Fenwick and Jack Fisher at WillowdaleOwned by Charles C. Fenwick, Jr., trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Hadden Frost, Doc Cebu has now won twice, first at Willowdale earlier this year, and finished third once in 2018 after winning four times last year while finishing second once.
Irvin Naylor's Top Man Michael, trained by Cril Murphy and ridden by Darren Nagle, was game in trying to hold off Doc Cebu after leading throughout the race.
Fenwick claimed Doc Cebu out of a $4,500 claiming race after the 8-year-old had run 29 times with only four wins.
Since he stated his career over fences, Doc Cebu has won eight times from 10 starts.
"It isn't going to get any better than this," said Fenwick after Doc Cebu's win at Shawan Downs. "The horse went well, and Hadden rode him well."
"I was concerned about how the going was going to play a role in this," said Fenwick as it had rained all but two days in September prior to the meet.
FENWICK, who is associated with Shawan Downs, said that it had taken "unbelievable teamwork" to get the course in shape for the meet.
"We have team people that worked tirelessly for the last week," said Fenwick. "The team moved quickly with great esprit."
"Doc Cebu will probably run next at Geneseo," said Fenwick. "He won there last year, and we like the fences there."
Frost was in the States from England, having brought some show horses for competitions.
"It was no coincidence that I brought the show horses over at this time,: said Frost. "It was planned."
Frost kept Doc Cebu in second behind Top Man Michael, moved up to challenge on the final turn and edged clear after the final fence.
"If you have one prime contender, it's good if you can keep him in view," said Frost. "Doc has his own ideas, especially about jumping. He met the first few fences a little close."
"I enjoy the steeplechases here," said Frost.
RICKY HENDRIKS saddled Rosbrian Farm's Indigo Heart, ridden by Archie McCauley, to win the $15,000 Apprentice Rider steeplechase and continues to lead the Steeplechase Standings in both Trainer, Money Won and Trainer, Races Won.
In Races Won, Hendriks leads with 15 wins, but Fisher , with two wins at Shawan Downs, moved up to second with 12 wins over Jonathan Sheppard's 11 wins.
In Money Won, Fisher, with $621,000, crept a little closer to Hendriks, who has $667,350, and Sheppard, with $363,900, is in third..
Rosbrian Farm, with $517,650, has a huge lead over Naylor, with $299,150, and Hudson River Farms, with $208,950, in Owner, Money Won.
The $30,000 Sport of Kings Maiden Hurdle was run in two divisions, with Elucidation (Ire), owned by Naylor, trained by Murphy and ridden by Nagle, winning the first division bu 6 1/2 lengths over Quality Song, owned by Mrs. George Ohrstrom, trained by Richard Valentine and ridden by Kieran Norris.
Flash Jackson, owned by Ann Jackson, trained by Todd Wyatt and ridden by Eric Poretz, won the second division by 1 1/2 lengths over Khafayya (Ire), owned by Sharon Sheppard, trained by Leslie Young and ridden by Norris.
Fisher saddled Duodecim Stable's All For Us, ridden by Michael Mitchell, to win the $30,000 Allowance Hurdle by 1 3/4 lengths over Go Get the Basil, owned by Eve Ledyard, trained by Hendriks and ridden by Jack Doyle, who leads in Rider, Races Won with 13 wins over Ross Geraghty, who leads in Rider, Money Won with $524,300, over Doyle.
Doug Fout saddled Lee Pokoik's Roller Rolls On, ridden by Barry Foley, to win the first race, a $20,000 Maiden Hurdle, and Neil Morris saddled Noble Stables' Kingofalldiamonds, ridden by Norris, to win the $15,000 Maiden timber race.
