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.
"THERE WAS just a bit of missed communication between Conor and Withoutmoreado," said Neilson. "We've schooled him since, and all is fine. He was squealing when we turned him out this morning."
"We're putting Saturday behind us and on to the next race." said Neilson. ""He's bright and happy."
Four horses prepping for the Hunt Cup ran in the $20,000, 3 1/4 mile Benjamin H. Murray Memorial Allowance Timber.
Joe Davies saddled two of them, Armata Stables' Mr. Fine Threads, ridden by Teddy Davies, and Kinross Farm's Blackhall, ridden by Charlie Marshall, to finish first and second, with Mr. Fine Treads winning by 4 1/2 lengths in 7:19 2/5.
A third prepping for the Hunt Cup, Lucy A. Goelet's Rocket Star Red, who finished third in 2021, second in 2022 and fell last year in the Hunt Cup, was ridden by Brett Owings,and finished third,with Queen's Empire, trained by Jack Fisher fourth.
Brooklyn Heights, trained by Mark Beecher, fell and Wagner, trained by Blythe Davies and prepping for the Hunt Cup, was disqualified when jockey Freddie Procter jumped a wrong fence.
"I have four entered in the Hunt Cup, Mr. Fine Threads, Blackhall, Great Road and Vintage Vinnie" said Davies. "We'll decide Wednesday who will go."
The Grand National lost a big piece of land over which the course had previously been run when a farm was sold, and the meet was run over a new course this year,
"I thought the course was really nice," said Davies. "There were good, competitive races."
Greenlights' The Butler Yates, trained by Leslie Young and ridden by Procter, won the $15,000, 3 mile Maiden Timber by 1 length in 6:28 over Island Nation, trained by Neilson.
Harvey W. Goolsby;s Bogey's image, trained by Joe Davies and ridden by Teddy, won the $15,000 Apprentice Rider Timber by 36 1/4 lengths in 6:16 4/5 over Paddy's Crown, trained by Emily Hannum.
