SENECA, Md.--Mr. Fine Threads, ridden by Eric Poretz and running without shoes, won the $2,500 Preakness Novice Timber race at the Potomac Hunt Races point-to-point on Sunday, May 21.
Mr. Fine Threads, left, and Real Factor over the last at Potomac (Photo by Bob Keller)"I bought Mr. Fine Threads from Billy Santoro, but he had foot issues," said Joe Davies, who trains the 10-year-old gelding for Armata Stables. "He won at Elkridge-Harford and was second at the Manor, but prior to that, we took his shoes off. He'd been lame with shoes on, and our blacksmith suggested trying him without shoes. So we took them off and painted his feet with turpentine every day."
"I don't know how many timber horses have run and won without shoes," said Davies. "Eric did a great job. Mr. Fine Threads will foxhunt this fall. He may go to Genesee and the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup. If he goes, he'll either be ridden by Eric or Teddy (Davies, Joe's son who broke his collarbone at the Grand National in April)."
Mr. Fine Threads won over Real Factor, trained by Arch Kingsley.
POTOMAC is one of the very few point-to-point races that offers money, and Potomac had purses in every hurdle and timber race, as well as a couple of flat races.
Mark Beecher saddled Gregory Hawkins Mekong, ridden by Jamie Bargary, to win the $2,500 Open Timber over Brave Deacon, trained by Davies.
"Janet Elliot, who ran him over hurdles, sent him to me in April," said Beecher. "He won over timber at the Middleburg Point-to-Point, and we sent him to Potomac for another educational races. He's two for two over timber now. He was very green when he came to me, but he's ticked all the boxes. Probably come the fall he'll run in some sanctioned races now that he has a bit of mileage. With those two races under his belt, he can go to a sanctioned race."
Barry Foley rode two winners, starting with Rolling Tide's Triton Rise (Ire), trained by Doug Fout, who won over Ice Bar, trained by Sarah Cundith, in the $1,500 Maiden Hurdle.
Foley also rode Junonia, owned by Kinross Farm and trained by Neil Morris, to win the $1,500 Open Hurdle over Iranistan, trained by Keri Brion.
Vivian Rall's Icandothat, trained and ridden by Sean McDermott, won the $1,500 Maiden Hurdle, second division, over Love Saga, trained by Alicia Murphy.
Leslie Young saddled Runnymore Racing's Eleasar, ridden by Tom Young, to win the $1,000 Open Flat, Ricky Hendriks saddled Del Rio Racing's Thomond Park, ridden by Virginia Korrell, to win the $1,000 Amateur Rider Open Flat, and Brion saddled Hudson River Farm's Sleight of Hand, ridden by Taylor Kingsley, to win the Young Rider Flat race.
Cami Kern on Mallory won the Small Pony Flat, Cambrie Franks on Sugar won the Medium Pony Flat, and Jaidyn Shore on Janneydancer won the Large Pony flat race.
