Racing

Awesome Adrian won the Grand National Steeplechase over Road to Oz

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April 22, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

BUTLER, Md.--Awesome Adrian jumped beautifully while running second before taking over the lead with about a mile to go to and then extending his lead to win by 4 1/2 lengths in the $35,000, 3 1/4 mile Grand National Steeplechase on Saturday, April 20..

Awesome Adrian (Photo by Robert Keller)Awesome Adrian, owned by Nancy A. Reed, trained by Kathy Neilson and ridden by Teddy Davies, finished in 6:37 4/5, to beat second placed Road to Oz, trained by Mark Beecher, with Shootist, trained by Tod McKenna, placing third and Great Road, trained by Joe Davis, finishing fourth.

"Nancy bred Awesome Adrian," said Neilson. "We're so lucky to have had him since he was a yearling. He doubles as a foxhunter and a timber horse. He loves foxhunting, and he loves timber racing. He's been a point of joy for both Nancy and me."

"He was going to go either to the Maryland Hunt Cup or Willowdale," said Neilson. "I asked Nancy what she wanted to do, and she said, `I'll see you at Willowdale.' I'm fine with that."

In the Grand National Timber Stakes, Goodoldtimes pulled up and Withoutmoreado, prepping for the Maryland Hunt Cup that he won last year, lost his  rider, Conor Tierney, at the eighth fence but continued on to jump all the fences without a rider, getting a good school for trainer Neilson.

Tierney, who had sprained his ankle two weeks ago, was fine after the fall and returned to ride in the next race.

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Snap Decision and Schoodic win Stakes at the Middleburg Spring Races

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April 21, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

MIDDLEBURG, Va.--Jack Fisher had a spectacular day at the Middleburg Spring Races on Saturday, April 20, winning both stakes with Snap Decision and Scoodic and two maiden races with promising 5-year-olds.

Snap Decision leads over last in Gwathmey (Photo by Tod Marks)
Bruton Street-US' Snap Decision, ridden by Graham Watters, was an impressive winner in the $75,000, G2, 2 1/2 mile Temple Gwathmey Hurdle Stakes, winning by 8 lengths while carrying the top weight of 162 pounds.

Snap was giving 10 pounds to second placed Noah and the Ark (Ire), trained by Todd McKenna, and 16 pounds to third placed Awakened, also trained by Fisher.

With the win, Snap is now a millionaire, with earnings of $1,045,834.

"It astounds me that he has won over $1 million but hasn't won an Eclipse Award," said Fisher. "That was a prep race. He'll go to the Iroquois stakes next."

It shows what kind of a horse Snap is that a $75,000 Stakes race could be considered a prep race.

Scoodic, owned by Fisher's mother, Mrs. John R. S. (Dolly) Fisher and ridden by Watters won the $30,000, 3 1/4 mile Middleburg Hunt Cup Timber Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths over Family Tree (GB), trained by Neil Morris.

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Inle won the Open Timber at the Mount Harmon-Wicomico Point-to-Point

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April 17, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

EARLEVILLE, Md.--Willy Dowling saddled Inle to win the $2,500 Wicomico Hunt Cup Open Timber st the Mount Harmon-Wicomico Point-to-Point on Sunday, April 14.

A race at Mount Harmon-Wicomico Point-to-Point
Kiplin Hall's Inle, ridden by Dan Nevin, won the 3 mile Open Timber over Hey Teacher (GB), trained by Kathy Neilson, finishing in 6:14, by far the fastest time of the day.

Inle has had a varied career and is now going on to yet another new job.

"I've had Inle for quite a while," said Dowling. "Jay Griswold owns him, and he sent him to Buck Davidson for a while. Buck competed him in Eventing, and he got as far as two star competitions. Then he came back to us, and he was leased to amateur Whitney Schweizer. She won the Maiden Timber here at Wicomico last year. Now he's won at Wicomico for the second time. He'll probably go on to be a foxhunter now."

"They try to do a really good job at Wicomico," said Dowling. "They had a good crowd with a lot of tail-gsters."

Fit for a King, owned by Runnymoore Racing, trained by Leslie Young and ridden by Freddie Procter, won the first timber race, the $1,500 H. Brooks Durkee Memorial Trophy Maiden Timber, over Glencarrib Sky (Ire), trained by Kathy Neilson, finishing in 6:26.

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Leslie Young saddled two winners at Tryon

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April 15, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

COLUMBUS, N.C.--Leslie Young saddled two winners, including Go Poke the Bear in the featured Ratings Handicap Hurdle, at the Tryon Block House Races on Saturday, April 13.

Go Poke the Bear winning at Colonial Dowsn (Photo by Coady Photograph) Go Poke the Bear, owned by a Syndicate and ridden by Jamie Bargary. won the $25,000, 2 mile Ratings Handicap Hurdle by 1 1/2 lengths in 3:39, the fastest time of the day, over Rocket One, trained by Jack Fisher.

"He was a classy flat horse," said Young of the 8-year-old gelding who was an allowance winner at Gulfstream. "He won last year at the Queens Cup and at Colonial Downs. In the fall, we tried a different tactic with him. We tried to rate him, but that didn't work. He does better fresh, He jumped well at Tryon."

"We haven't made up our mind about here he'll go next," said Young. "It depends on how they rate him. If they rate him too high, he might go to a steeplethon."

Young also saddled Green Valley Construction and Ashwell Stable's Tufton Avenue (Ire). ridden by Gerard Galligan, to win the $30,000 Maiden Hurdle by 3/4 length in 3:40 4/5 over Smart Uncle,, trained by Fisher.

"I purchased him from Brian Lenehan,"said Young."He named him after the street the Maryland Hunt Cup is on. This was his first race in America. I've been trying to find him an owner.  He'll make a smashing timber horse.

Tufton Avenue had run four times in England over hurdles before Young bought him.

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Our Friend won the My Lady's Manor Timber Stakes while Vintage Vinnie finished second in the Apprentice Rider Timber

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April 15, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

MONKTON, Md.--Blythe and Joe Davies had two winners and an important second at My Lady's Manor on Saturday, April 13.

Joe and Teddy Davies (File Photo)
Joe Davies saddled Armata Stables' Our Friend, ridden by his son Teddy to win the $50,000 My Lady's Manor Timber Stakes by a neck in 6:21 2/5 over Riverdee Stable's Include It, trained by Todd Wyatt with Daniel Baker's Road to Oz, trained by Mark Beecher, third.

Joy Carrier's Salamanca School, trained by Leslie Young, led for much of the race until Charlie Fenwick's Royal Ruse, trained by Sanna Neilson, who was prepping for the Maryland Hunt Cup , went briefly into the lead on the final turn but was quickly passed by the eventual winners.

Our Friend is nominated for the Maryland Hunt Cup, but Davies said he hadn't decided yet whether Our Friend would run.

"He's entered in the Grand National next week," said Davies. "We had a hiccup there last year, so he'll have to pass that test before we decide on the Hunt Cup."

Our Friend fell at the fifth fence in last year's Grand National Timber Stakes and did not run in the Hunt Cup.

Hard Strike, owned by Keystone Thoroughbreds, trained by Todd McKenna and ridden by Andrew Burke Ott, won the $20,000 John Rush Streett Memorial Allowance Timber by 2 1/2 lengths in 6:26 2/5 over Theda's Boy, trained by Kevin Boniface and ridden by Brett Owings,, but To Be or Not To Be, ridden by Teddy Davies, fell early in the race.

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Previous Maryland Hunt Cup winners to have a rematch in this year's Hunt Cup

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April 12, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

REISTERSTOWN, Md.--Withoutmoreado, last year's Maryland Hunt Cup winner, and Vintage Vinnie, winner in both 2021 and 2022, are both aimed at this year's race on April 27.

Withoutmoreado
Vintage Vinnie

Along with those two previous winners, the second placed horses from last year and 2022, Royal Ruse and Rocket Star Red, are also nominated to the Hunt Cup, as well as Good Old Times, third in 2022.

With those five horses, along with another eight nominated to the Hunt Cup, this year's edition may be one of the most exciting ever.

It may well come down to the condition of the turf in the four mile race that features the biggest timber fences in the world.

Withoutmoreado favors soft going, while Vintage Vinnie prefers hard going.

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Mount Harmon-Wicomico Point-to-Point features three exciting Timber Races

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April 11, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

EARLEVILLE, Md.--Mount Harmon-Wicomico Point-to-Point, the final meet of the Delaware Valley Point-to-Point season, has a three full fields of exciting

Timber races that includes Pleasecallmeback, a winner over hurdles transitioning to timber, who is entered in the Ladies Timber.

Larry Levy's Pleasecallmeback, trained by Billy Meister and to be ridden by Virginia Korrell at Wicomico, was a winner on the flat at Gulfsteam and won over hurdles in a handicap at Charleston.

The first timber race, the $1,500 Maiden Timber, post time 1:30, has a field of five horses entered and should be a very competitive race.

Another winner over hurdles, Meadow Run Farm's Glencorrib Sky (Ire), trained by Kathy Neilson and to be ridden at Wicomico by Gerard Galligan, is also making the transition to timber and will start in the Maiden Timber..

Jet Setting Johnny (Ire), a steeplechase winner in Ireland, makes his first start in this country for 2023 Leading Trainer Leslie Young and will be ridden by Freddie Procter in the Maiden Timber.

In the Lady Timber, post time 2:00, along with Pleasecallmeback. the other three entries, Brave Deacon, trained by Joe Davies, Itsknownasthebern, trained by Meister, and City of Grace, are all making the transition to timber horses from doing well either on the flat or over hurdles.

The Open Timber,, post time 2:30, includes Hey Teacher, twice second over hurdles, trained by Neilson and to be ridden by Galligan.

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Withoutmoreado won over Shootist at a sold out Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point

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April 8, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

WEST CHESTER,Pa.--Withoutmoreado just edged Shootist in a thrilling finish in the combined Open Timber and Amateur Apprentice Rider Timber at the Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point on Sunday, April 7.

Scarlet and Teddy Davies won two of the three timber races
It was only a two horse race, but it was between two horses prepping for the Maryland Hunt Cup, one of which, Withoutmoreado, won the Hunt Cup last year.

Brandywine Hills drew one of its largest crowds ever.

"We had a tremendous crowd," said race Chairman Carl J. (Bunny) Meister. "We sold out of room in general admission and had to park general admission cars in Preferred Parking. That's only the second time ever we had to do that,"

In the combined race, Irv Naylor's Withoutmoreado, trained by Kathy Neilson and ridden by Teddy Davies, won by a neck over Shootist, trained by Todd McKenna and ridden by Freddie Procter.

Shootist led by about a length over most of the 3 mile course, but Withoutmoreado caught him a the last fence, which they jumped as a pair, and just prevailed by a neck at the finish.

"Withoutmoreado jumped well,"said Neilson. "He enjoyed himself. I brought him to Brandwine because the ground was so good. He likes soft going."

Withoutmoreado's regular rider, Conor Tierney, had broken his ankle in a race in Virginia the day before Brandywine, so Teddy Davies picked up the ride.

"Teddy had ridden him once before, at Genesee," said Neilson.

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Joe Davies' Mr. Fine Threads and Our Friend won at Elkridge-Harford

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April 8, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

MONKTON, Md.--Joe Davies saddled two Maryland Hunt Cup nominees, Mr. Fine Threads and Our Friend, to win at the Elkridge-Harford Point-to-Point on Saturday ,April 6.

Joe Davies
Armata Stables' Mr. Fine Threads, ridden by Teddy Davies,, won the $10,000, 3 mile Edward S. Voss Memorial Open Timber in 6:42.37 over Huyana, trained by William Dowling.

"Huyana led until the finals strides, when Teddy caught him at the wire,"said Joe Davies."Mr. Fine Threads runs without shoes. He'll go to the Grand National next."

The Heavyweight Timber and the Amateur Apprentice Rider Timber races were run together, with Armata Stables' Our Friend winning over Brooklyn Speights to win the Amateur Apprentice Timber in 6:52.06.

Be Counted, trained by Todd Wyatt, was second in the Amateur Apprentice.

Turks Head Turf's Brooklyn Speights, trained by Mark Beecher and ridden by Dan Nevin,, won the Heavyweight over Our Legend (Ire), trained by Emily Hannum.

"Our Friend won nicely," said Davies. "He was carrying 170 pounds."

Even though Our Friend was running in the Amateur Apprentice, he carried 170 pounds, five pounds more than Brooklyn Speights in the Heavyweight.

"Those were two really good races," said Davies, who is Master of Foxhounds at Elkridge-Harford. "We had hundreds of ponies. It was a really good pony turnout. We had a great crowd of spectators. It was a perfect early April day, but a little chilly."

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Parker Hendriks saddled Lap of the Gods to win the Allowance Timber at Old Dominion

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April 7, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

WASHINGTON,,Va.--Parker Hendriks saddled Stewart Strawbridge's Lap of the Gods to win the $20,000, 3 mile Allowance Timber at Old Dominion Point-to-Point on Saturday, April 6.

Parker HendriksHendriks had been scheduled to ride Lap of the Gods, but Easy Squeeze, trained by Doug Fout, fell with Hendriks while leading in the race before the Allowance Timber, and Hendriks hurt his back and was unable to ride.

The Allowance Timber was one of three NSA sanctioned races at Old Dominion.

Lap of the Gods, ridden by Graham Watters, went into the lead over the last fence and beat Family Tree (GB), trained by Neil Morris, by 5 3/4 lengths with Stooshie (Ire),trained by Cyril Murphy, a distanced third.

Fashion Line, trained by Kathy Neislon, lost his rider at the 14th fence while holding a clear lead.

"I was delighted," said Hendriks."I thought going into this race that I would be very pleased if he was second, and it would have been okay if he'd finished third. So I was thrilled when he won."

"He's entered in the Middleburg Hunt Cup, but I'm not sure he'll go there," said Hendriks. "He's also eligible for the timber race at Nashville and at the Gold Cup, so it will be one of those three."

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Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point offers new Leading Jockey award

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April 4, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

WEST CHESTER, Pa.--The Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point on Sunday, April 7 has five horse entered in its races that are nominated to the Maryland Hunt Cup.

The last fence at Brandywine Hills (Photo by Jim Graham)
New this year, thanks to Ashwell Stables, the Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point will present $500 to the Leading Jockey of the day’s races.

Points will be awarded, 5, 3, 2 and 1 from first through fourth, in accordance to the Delaware Valley Point to Point conditions.

With the weather expected to be sunny and warm, Brandywine Hills is a great family outing that includes a parade of foxhounds, antique cars and a children’s activities area.

Refreshments are available on-site for purchase.

Raffle tickets are available for purchase at $10 to win prizes including a trip, artwork, restaurant certificates and Devon Horse Show box seats.

The featured race, the Henry C. Baldwin Open Timber, has seven entries, including four horses that are nominated to the Maryland Hunt Cup.

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Mark Beecher saddled Decisive Triumph to win the $15,000 Amateur Apprentice Timber at Blue Ridge

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April 3, 2024

By Staff Writers

BERRYVILLE, Va.--Mark Beecher saddled four winners between Blue Ridge Hunt Races on Saturday, March 30 and Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point on Sunday, March 30, including having the winner of the $15,000 NSA sanctioned Amateur Apprentice Timber race at Blue Ridge.

Mark Beecher (File photo from when he was a jockey)
Daniel R. Baker's Decisive Triumph, trained by Beecher and ridden by Dan Nevin, won the $15,000,2 mile Amateur Apprentice Hurdle by 4 lengths in 3:41 3/5 over Eye of Gunfighter, trained by Lawrence Smith.

"Decisive Triumph has been a great horse for me," said Beecher. He's 11. He had some time off last year, but it's nice to se him at 11 as enthusiastic as ever."

"He's normally a front runner, but he likes a good gallop, and as long as there's a good gallop he doesn't have to be in front," said Beecher. "In the past, he's been second three times in novice stakes, so he has a bit of class behind him."

Turks Head Turf's Exuma (Ire), trained by Beecher and ridden by Nevin, won the Maiden Hurdle by 3 lengths in 3:52 3/5 over Sliabh Aughty (Fr), trained by Liam Bourke.

"Exuma started with Aiden O'Brien in Ireland," said Beecher. "He had a nice run around Warrenton. This was his second race. He'll probably go in a sanctioned race in three or four weeks."

In the other sanctioned race at Blue Ridge, Upland Partners; Bob's Bar (Ire), trained by Todd McKenna and ridden by Andrew Burke Ott, won the $15,000, 3 mile Amateur Apprentice Timber by 11 1/2 lengths over Salamanca School (Fr), trained by Leslie Young.

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Court Ruler won the Cheshire Bowl at the Cheshire Point-to-Point on a record day of ticket sales

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April 2, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

UNIONVILLE, Pa.--Leipers Fork Steeplechaser's Court Ruler, trained by Leslie Young and ridden by Freddie Procter, won the $20,00 Cheshire Bowl Open Timber by 22 1/2 lengths at the Cheshire Point-to-Point on Sunday, March 31.

Island Nation, right, ridden by Conor Tiierney, winning the Novice Timber (Photo by Tisa Dell-Volpe)
"We had a huge general admission at Cheshire," said Co-Chairman Kathy Neilson, who saddled two winners at the meet."We had a record day of ticket sales."

The first three races, the Cheshire Bowl the Apprentice Rider Timber and the Maiden Timber, were all NSA sanctioned races, and all the timber races were run at about three miles.

Court Ruler has been very good for us.," said Young. "He's won over hurdles, including at Saratoga, and he's won in steeplethon. He's been very productive. This was the second year in a row he won the Cheshire Bowl. I was very happy with him."

"We're looking maybe at the steeplethon at Middleburg for his next race," said Young.

Court Ruler went right to the front at Cheshire and led throughout while Royal Ruse, trained by Sanna Neilson, and Fashion Line, trained by Kathy Neilson, ran in tandem  second and third followed by Withoutmoreado, trained by Kathy Neilson.

Court Ruler drew off in the final three furlongs to win easily, finishing in 5:05 3/5, the fastest race of the day, while Royal Ruse was second and Fashion Line placed third with Withoutmoreado fourth..

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Abaan won the $75,000 Carolina Cup while Arch Kingsley saddled two winners

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April 1, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

CAMDEN, S.C.--Abaan, trained by Kate Dalton, won the featured $75,000 Carolina Cup Novice Hurdle Stakes, while Arch Kingsley, with two wins at the Carolina Cup Races on March 30, went into the early lead in Trainer, Races Won with  total of three wins to date..

Abaan, left, out dueled The Hero Next Door in the Carolina Cup (Photo by Tod Marks)
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners Abaan, ridden by Bernie Dalton, won by 2 1/4 lengths over The Hero Next Door, trained by Leslie Young, finishing in the fastest time of the day, 3:53 4/5 over the 2 1/8 mile course..

"For once, it panned out exactly how I'd figured it," said Dalton. "I figured Leslie's horse would be on the lead with Jack Fisher's horse and that we'd be last, but with only four horses in the field I knew there wouldn't be much distance from first to last, as no one would want anyone to get away. In the end, it worked out that we had the fastest horse."

"He'd won over $400,000 for Todd Pletcher before I got him,"said Dalton. "He was second first time out for me, and now he's won three in a row."

Abaan was a graded stakes winner on the flat with earnings of $531,290, running from 2020 through April, 2023.

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Cheshire Point-to-Point features three sanctioned races

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March 27, 2024

By SARA CAVANAGH

UNIONVILLE, Pa.--Cheshire Point-to-Point on Easter Sunday, March 31 features three National Steeplechase Association sanctioned races, with post time for the first at 12 noon.

Kathy Neilson
With a weather forecast for clear weather on a fairly balmy spring day, Cheshire is a great way to celebrate Easter with an exciting day of timber racing in the country, with a course that spectators can see in its entirety.

Cheshire begins with four pony races scheduled from 10:30 to 11:15.

The $20,000 Cheshire Bowl at noon has seven entries, and with the top horses it has drawn it looks to be a very thrilling and competitive race.

Three of those entered in the Cheshire Bowl are nominated to the Maryland Hunt Cup, and two of them ran first and second in last year's Hunt Cup.

And two of those entered ran first and second in last year's Cheshire Bowl.

Irv Naylor's Withoutmoreado, trained by Kathy Neilson, won last year's Maryland Hunt Cup winner,  and he is also cross-entered in race two.

He's scheduled to be ridden by Conor Tierney.

Chariie Fenwick's Royal Ruse, trained by Sanna Neislon, finished second in last year's Hunt Cup, and in the Cheshire Bowl, he'll be ridden by 2022 NSA Leading Jockey Parker Hendriks

 The third Hunt Cup nominated horse entered in the Cheshire Bowl is Nancy A. Reed's Awesome Adrian, trained by Kathy Neilson and scheduled to be ridden by Tierney.

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