GENESEE, N.Y.--Joe Davies saddled Mr.Fine Threads, ridden by son Teddy, to break his maiden in the first timber race at Genesee Valley Hunt Races while Leslie Young saddled the next two winners,including Monbeg Stream in the featured Timber Stakes.
Mr. Fine Threads, ridden by Teddy Davies (Photo by Sam Smith submitted by Davies)Armata Stables' Mr. Fine Threads won the $15,000, 3mile Maiden Timber by 6 lengths over The Butler Yates (Ire), trained by Young, finishing in 5.51 3/5..
"We got Mr. Fine Threads last winter," said Davies. "Before that, Bill Santoro owned him. He won at Willowdale but was disqualified cutting a flag, then he was disqualified at the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup for testing positive. I'd been asking Billy Santoro if he'd sell him to me, and he finally agreed after the Hunt Cup."
"Every time the blacksmith came to shoe him he'd be lame for three or four days, so we took the front shoes off him,and he's been happy ever since,"said Davies. "He runs in hind shoes but no front shoes. His feet have expanded. The ground at Genesee was firm and good, but then t rained and it got slippery, but he didn't slip. Teddy gave him a great ride."
"He'll go to the non-winners of two at the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup next," said Davies.
Young saddled Tuscany Racing's Monbeg Stream (Ire), ridden by Freddy Procter, to win the $25,000, 3 1/2 mile Timber Stakes by 39 3/4 lengths over Andi'amu, trained by Neil Morris, finishing in 6:51..
ANDI'AMU has been a champion timber horse with multiple stakes wins.
Running at Genesee, he took the top rail out of almost every fence except for those fences that already had the top rail takes out by one of the leaders.
When he jumped the coop, he also jumped too low, and pecked badly on landing.
It was sad to see a previously top champion beaten by almost 40 lengths after not jumping according to his previous ability.
"I got Monbeg Stream at a Tattersalls sale," said Young."I liked his breeding."
Monbeg Stream finished second in Middleburg in his first race in 2021, when he was 5, the won twice in 2022 before winning a stakes races at the Grand National in 2023.
Then at Willowdale this spring, he didn't finish.
"He's been brilliant," said Young. "He's a big horse, and he was still growing, so we gave him time off after 2022 and brought him back this spring," said Young. "We threw out Willowdale because Freddy was riding with a broken collarbone, and it was slippery."
"We're thinking of the Maryland Hunt Cup in a year or so," said Young. "He'll go next to the Gold Cup or the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup.
Salamanca School (Fr), owned by Joy Carrier's Fat Chance Farm and ridden by Procter, won the $10,000 Amateur or Apprentice Ride Timber by 21 3/4 lengths over Our Friend (Ire), trained by Davies, finishing in 5:26 3/5.
"He's a really fun young prospect," said Young. "He has some engine He can run all day. He'll either go to the steeplethon at the Gold Cup or to Callaway Gardens."
