Arch Kingsley and Kathy Neilson won at Aiken Steeplechase

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March 23, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

AIKEN, S.C.--Arch Kingsley saddled I'm A Rocket Man (Ire)  to win the $35,000 Maiden Hurdle and Kathy Neilson with L'Avvocato (Fr) won the $25,000 Ratings Handicap Hurdle  at the Aiken Spring Steeplechase on Saturday, March 21.

I'm A Rocket Man over a fence halfway through the race (Photo by Tod Marks)This was I'm a Rocket Man's first race in this country after running five times in Ireland with two third place finishes.

"We brought him over last fall," said Kingsley. "We were going to run him last fall, but he got little hurt when he got here. That gave him a little extra time to get acclimated."

Owned by Hudson River Farms and ridden by Freddie Procter, I'm A Rocket Man won the 2 1/8 mile race by 1 3/4 lengths over Coal Boss, trained by Kate Dalton, and Rotterdam, trained by Ricky Hendriks.

"He's always trained like a nice horse," said Kingsley. "We were really pleased with him. There's a couple of non-winners of two were looking at for him, at Middleburg and at Great Meadows."

Kingsley also had Bee Well run third in the $40,000 Ratings Handicap.

"That was a satisfying performance," said Kinsley. "He was stepping up in class. We think a lot of him."

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Swore, trained by Keri Brion, won the $75.000 Carolina Cup

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March 31, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

CAMDEN, S.C,--Swore, trained by Keri Brion, won the $75,000, 2 1/8 mile Carolina Cup Novice Hurdle Stakes over a field of seven at the Carolina Cup Races on Saturday,March 28.

Swore leads Chortal over the last in the Carolina Cup (Photo by Tod Marks)Owned by Stone Farm and Upland Flats Racing and ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, Swore won by 6 3/4 lengths over Chortal (GB) and Coutach (GB). both trained by Ricky Hendriks.

Swore now has four wins and a second, including two stakes wins, from six starts over fences.

"Swore was trained by Graham Motion," said Brion. "He was a nice horse but just a click below stakes quality. I'd been watching him for a while.  Stone Farm bred him and still owned half of him. I said to Patrick Lewis that I thought he'd make a good steeplechase horse, and Patrick bought the other half."

"He's been in my barn since November of 2024," she said. "We taught him to jump and then turned him out for the winter. I'd noticed he sounded like he was making a noise, and in the spring it was worse, so he had a complete wind operation. That's why he didn't run until July, but that wind operation really helped him."

Later last year, Swore won the G1 Lonesome Glory Handicap and the G1 American Grand National Hurdle Stakes.

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Father and son Todd and James Wyatt had a winner at Piedmont

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March 24, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

UPPERVILLE, Va.--The father and son combo of Todd as trainer and James as jockey joined forces to win a timber race at the Piedmont Fox Hounds Point-to-Point on Saturday, March 21.

Piedmont racesSarah M. Jay's Be Counted won the second division of the Foxhunter Timber by 5 lengths over Shining Marble (Ire), trained by Kathy Neilson.

"We've had Be Counted for quite a long time," said Todd. "He's owned by Sarah Jay, whose father, who has passed, was a long time client of ours."

"James won a bunch of races on Be Counted last year," said Todd. "He was also on the winning team at the Foxhall Farm Team Chase a couple of weeks ago. We'll run him back at Elkridge Harford, and James will ride him."

Of having the father and son combination, Todd said "We''re lucky to have that."

Neil Morris saddled Vincent Bonanni's Bet the Pot, ridden by Eric Poretz, to win the first division of that timber race by a neck over Paddy's Crown, trained by Emily Hannum.

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Elkridge Harford Hunt won the Foxhall Farm Cup Team Chase

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March 17, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

WEST GROVE, Pa.--Elkridge Harford Hunt placed first, second and third in the Foxhall Farm Cup Team Chase for the fastest time, while Green Spring Valley Hounds team won the Full Cry for the team chase average time.

Foxhall Farm Team CupCharlie Fenwick rode on the winning team in the Full Cry Chase and owns a horse that was on the winning team in the Foxhall Farm Cup Chase.

The Foxhall Farm Team Cup is competed over about three miles of fair hunting country, and Elkride Harford, Green Spring Valley annd Cheshire Foxounds alternate hosting the Chase.

The team of James Wyatt on Fenwick's Neutral, Dan Nevin on Riverdee Stable's Include It and Freddie Procter on Sarah Jay's Be Counted won in 12:03 over the Elkridge Harford team of Teddy Davies, Sophie O'Brien and Chelsea Secor that finished in 12:08.

There were six team in the fastest time division, and the Elkridge Harford team of Manuel Aguilera, Gretchen Eisenberg and Pauly Aguilera was third, finishing in 12:28.

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Leslie Young had two winners and four placed at Warrenton

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March 16, 2026

By SARA CAVANAGH

WARRENTON, Va.--Leslie Young had two winners, two seconds and two thirds at the Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point on Saturday, March 14.

Leslie YoungAfter a long, hard winter, trainers were obviously anxious to give their horses an outing as the maiden, novice and flat races all had big entries.

Leipers Fork Steeplechasers' Walk the Warrior, trained by Young and ridden by Ben Mulligan, won the Amateur/Novice Hurdle by 20 lengths over Articuno, trained by Ricky Hendriks.

"Walk the Walk was a very competent hurdle horse," said Young. "We ran him last year in steeplethons, and that didn't work, so now he's back to hurdles."

"All the horses had a nice prep," said Young. "We use the point-to-points as a work. The jockeys said the going was good. I was really happy without first outing. It;s a long season."

Young's horses ran first, second and third in the Open Flat that had 11 entries.

Sharon Sheppard's Rucker Road (Ire), ridden by Sarah Cundith, won by 4 lengths over Foxy Walk (Ire) and Rampoldi Plan.

"Rucker Road is headed to Aiken for the Ratings Handicap," said Young. "Foxy Walk and Rampoldi both had good runs."

Ricky Hendriks also had a good day as a trainer, with one winner,  three seconds and a third.

Learnington Racing's Chortal (GB), trained by Hendriks and ridden by Virginia Korrell, won the Novice Rider Flat by 5 lengths over two of Young's, Two Past Eight (GB) and Garrison Forest (Ire).

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George Strawbridge heads Chester County day in California

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December 30, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

ARCADIA, Calif.--In a once in a lifetime finish, three horses owned by two men who live just a few mile apart in southern Chester County finished one, two, three in a Grade 1 race at Santa Anita race track in California.

Ambaya (Photo by Benoit Photo)Ambaya, owned and bred by George Strawbridge Jr.'s Augustin Stables, won the G1, $300,000, 1 1/4 mile American Oaks turf race for 3-year-old fillies by 1/2 length.

Cliffs, owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stables, finished second, and Strawbridges's homebred Will Then placed third, another neck back.

Strawbridge had flown out to California to watch his two homebreds run and was richly rewarded.

Strawbridge has been a top owner and breeder for decades, but his greatest success came during his five decades with Jonathan Sheppard, when he won both flat and steeplechase Eclipse Awards with the two flat Awards being with Forever Together and Informed Decision.

Ambaya, trained by Jonathan Thomas, ran fifth until the final turn in the Oaks, launching a bid at the top of the stretch and digging in late to beat Cliffs on her inside and Will Then on her outside.

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Graham Motion and Keri Brion won multiple races

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December 28, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

FAIR HILL, Md.--Graham Motion won seven races while Keri Brion won four and Michel Matz won one during the past months.

No Show Sammy Jo (GB) (Photo by Adam Coglianese)All three trainers are based at the Fair Hill Training Center.

Motion's wins  included two stakes, an allowance and four maiden special weights while Brion's included two maiden special weights and two claiming races and Matz won a maiden claimer.

Newstead Stables' No Show Sammy Jo (GB)  won the $125,000, 1 3/8 mile Via Borghese Stakes for fillies  and mares 3 and up  on the turf by 5 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park on Christmas Eve.

The 5 year old mare saved ground off the pace, advanced three wide around the turn and drew off in the stretch to win comfortably.

No Show Sammy Jo's win ran her career totals to six wins and three seconds from 13 starts, including three stakes wins, and $503,225 in earnings.

Head of the Plains' homebred Jaxer won the !25,000, 1 mile Notebook Stakes for New York bred 2 year olds on the turf by 1 length at Aqueduct on Nov. 14.

Jaxer ran seventh of 10 until put to a drive entering the stretch, closing strongly for the win.

Jaxer had previously won a maiden race at Belmont after finishing eighth and then second in his first two races. 

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Keri Brion and three Grade 1 thrillers

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December 23, 2025

By Staff Writers

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - To celebrate a remarkable year of racing action on the New York Racing Association, Inc. circuit, the NYRA Press Office checked in with a selection of trainers, owners, jockeys and racing personalities to share their reflections on the memorable year.

Keri Brion (Photo by NYRA)Trainer Keri Brion has posted a career-best year in wins and purse earnings, with 44 victories banking over $2.3 million [as of Dec. 19], including a trio of steeplechase Grade 1 victories on the NYRA-circuit, all in thrilling finishes.

Historic Heart, an 8-year-old Fracas gelding owned by Atlantic Friends Racing, captured the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Handicap by a nose holding off the oncoming Grade 1-winner Proven Innocent on July 23 at Saratoga Race Course.

The chestnut was making just his second start off a nearly two-year layoff, which ended with a return in an April 20 allowance at Morven Park where he stumbled and lost the rider.

Jimmy P, a 7-year-old Slumber gelding owned by Madaket Stables, Molly Willis and Paul Willis, repeated in the Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard Handicap on Aug. 27 at Saratoga.

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Barnavara Fairytale Keeps Russell Jones Young

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December 3, 2025

By Staff Writers

Reprintedd from the Thoroughbred Daily Times

By Chris McGrath

He called it a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience, smiling in the Paris sunshine, spry and dapper in his bow tie and blazer. And then he added: “I mean, I'm 90 years old, so I don't know how much more lifetime there is!”

Barnavara (Phoo by Scoop Dyga)That helped the interview go fairly viral. But there was much else besides: the sheer joie de vivre, the sense of just how much living Russell Jones has crammed into that lifetime; plus an infectious sense of the fulfilment available, when you invest in a horse in a purely sporting spirit.

Jones only found himself at Longchamp because he had wanted to honor the memory of Johnny Harrington by participating in a partnership at the stable run by his dear friend's widow Jessica. In his time, to be sure, Jones has plenty of horse trading. He would know as well as anybody the commercial potential of bloodstock. In fact, along with his late brother Richard, he consigned Producer (Nashua) to achieve a broodmare record $5.25 million at Keeneland in 1983. Even so, there may be a lesson for those people who nowadays approach the game in a wholly mercenary spirit, in the way things have played out with Barnavara (Ire) (Calyx {GB}). Because this €70,000 yearling goes to the Sceptre Sessions at Tattersalls Tuesday (hip 1753) as winner of the G1 Prix de l'Opera–a race once won, funnily enough, by Producer.

What a weekend the Alpha Racing syndicate had in Paris–and how often did thoughts turn to Johnny. Jones had gotten to know him way back in the 1960s, when Johnny was working for the Curragh Bloodstock Agency, and had come to America to help launch Jonathan Sheppard's training career. They hit it off so well that Johnny started staying with Jones in Pennsylvania, whenever he travelled over.

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Arch Kingsley won three at Aiken

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November 24, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

AIKEN, S.C.--Arch Kingsley saddled three winners and was leading trainer at the Aiken Fall Steeplechase on Saturday, Nov, 22.

Sweet Will, ridden by Freddie Procter (Photo by Tod Marks)Freddie Procter rode all three of Kingsley's winners, and with those three wins moved into a tie for Rider, Races Won with 15 wins behind runaway winner Graham Watters, who won 26 races.

"It was a very good day, said Kingsley. "We always try to do well at Aiken, so it's nice when it all comes together."

"I was really happy for Freddie," said Kingsley. "He's put in a lot of work and he came down here to work the horses. So it's nice for him to have a three win day."

Kingsley saddled Hurricana Farm's Sweet Will (Ire) to win the $35,000, 2 1/8 mile Ratings Handicap Hurdle b y 1 length in 3:48 4/5  over Rucker Road (Ire), trained by Leslie Young, and Caramelised, also trained by Young.

"We've had Sweet Will for a year," said Kingsley. "This was his first win for us. He won six hurdle races in Ireland. We bought him to be a timber horse, but right now he's still a productive hurdle horse. He was third in the G1 Lonesome Glory."

"I'm not sure what we'll do with him next year," he said. "Whether we'll make him a timber horse or or stay with him over hurdles. He still has some good days over hurdles."

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Risk Taking won the Allowance race at Steeplechase at Charleston

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November 10, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

HOLLYWOOD, S.C.--Julie Gomena saddled Risk Taking to win the $35,000 Allowance Hurdle at Steeplechase at Charleston on Sunday, Nov. 9.

Risk Taking and Bernie DaltonStonelea Stables' Risk Taking, ridden by Bernie Dalton, won the 2 3/8 mile race by 13 1/2 lengths in 4:28 3/5 over Cainyoudothetwist, trained by Arch Kingsley, and Brie's Mission, trained by Kathy Neilson.  

That was a nice end to the year," said Gomena.

"I've had Risk Taking for three years now." she said. "I bought him at the Keeneland fall sale. He'd been trained by Chad Brown, and he ran in the Preakness."

Risk Taking had sold for $240,000 as a yearling, and he won the G3 Withers as a 3-year-old.

Gomena bought Risk Taking for $75,000.

"He was a raging, screaming stallion, so we had him gelded." said Gomena. "I ran him first at Colonial, and he blew a tendon, so he had a year off."

"He's still a keen horse, so if he runs up front against another horse he runs himself out, so we always tuck him in behind," she said. "He's one paced, so he needs to close on speed."

"He'll get a vacation now," said Gomena. "He's now officially a novice, so we'll bring him out again next spring."

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Keri Brion had five winners, Motion, Matz and Merryman also had winners

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November 9, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

LAUREL, Md.--Keri Brion had five winners, including two allowance winners, in the last month, while Graham Motion had seven winners, including two Stakes winners, and Michael Matz and Liz Merryman also had winners.

Sporting LadyAudley Farm Equine's Sporting Lady won a $50,500, 5 1/2 Allowance race for Fillies and Mares on the turf by 1 1/2 lengths and paid $70.60 for the win.

"Sporting Lady is a nice filly," said Brion. "She threw  in a bad race last start with no real excuse. She came out of it fine, so we regrouped and tried again."

"I can't believe they let her go off at 30 to one," said Brion. "She's always been  very consistent. She's a nice really filly who should keep improving."

Sporting Lady ran second five times in Maiden Special Weight races before winning on Aug. 23, and then finishing eighth in an allowance race before her win at Laurel.

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Master Seville, trained by Mark Beecher, won the Pa. Hunt Cup

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November 5, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

UNIONVILLE, Pa.--Mark Beecher saddled Master Seville to win the $35,000, 4 mile Pennsylvania Hunt Cup on Sunday, Nov. 2.

Master Seville, number 4 on the right. early in the Hunt Cup (Photo by Tod Marks)Master Seville, owned by South Branch Equine and ridden by Graham Watters, won the Hunt Cup by 4 3/4 lengths in 8:35 3/5 over Uco Valley (Ire), trained by Leslie Young, and Goodoldtimes (Ire), also trained by Beecher.

Also, at a previous race meet, Duncan Patterson, a steward at the Hunt Cup in an interview explained the rulings in a controversial timber race at the International Gold Cup.

"Master Seville has been with me a long time," said Beecher. "I got hm as a 4-year-old and he's 9 now. He's won five or six sanctioned races and a number of point-to-point races."

Beecher said he didn't give Watters any instructions.

"Graham is a very good rider," he said." I thought he gave him a very good ride, The horse jumped beautifully."   

"He's been a rock solid horse for us," said Beecher. "This is his first stakes win. He's a lovely horse. He foxhunts, and anyone can ride him,"

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Cool Jet won the Noel Laing Stakes at Montpelier

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November 3, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

MONTPELIER STATION, Va.--Riverdee Stable's Cool Jet (Ire) won the G3, $75,000 Noel Laing Stakes at Montpelier, while Mark Beecher had two winners and a third to win the Leading Trainers award.

Cool Jet led over last to win the Commonwealth Cup (Photo by Tod Marks)Cool Jet, trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Bernie Dalton, won the 2 1/2 mile Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths inn 5:12 2/5 over Noble Anthem (Ire), trained by Tom Garner, and For the Parish, (Ire), trained by Leslie Young,

"Cool Jet has a very high cruising speed," said Sean Clancy, manager of the Riverdee Stable syndicate "He loved it at Montpelier, He loved those hedge jumps. Some horses brush through them, but he jumped over them. It looked beautiful. And he never put a foot wrong."

Cool Jet went to the front from the start and was never headed, opening up after the last fence to win comfortably.

"Bernie got on him three rides ago, and he's got him in rhythm," said Clancy.

Cool Jet has won the last three stakes he's run in,, the Commonwealth Cup at Great Meadow, the Mariann de Tjjeda Stakes at Foxfield and now at Montpelier, after finishing second and third earlier this year.

"He's 9, and he's had a good year," said Clancy. " He'll probably go to the Colonial Cup. I think he'll like it there."

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Mark Beecher as trainer and Virginia Korrell as jockey dominated Genesee Valley

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October 14, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

GENESEO, N.Y.--Armata Stable's Crealion, trained by  Tom Garner and ridden by Virginia Korrell was disqualified on Saturday, Oct. 11 due to not weighing out at the correct weight at the Genesee Valley Hunt Races.

Crealion ridden by Virginia KorellThen 48 hours later the National Steeplechase Association Stewards Advisory Committee ruled that the disqualification of the horse was not warranted.  

"When i weighed out, I was one-tenth of a pound under," said Korrell. "It used to be that jockeys were allowed a half pound leeway, but that was changed this year. Tom argued the decision and it was changed."

Originally, it was announced that South Branch Equine's Master Seville, ridden by Nevin, won the $15,000 Amateur or Apprentice Rider Timber by 5 1/4 lengths in 5:40 3/5 over Project Two (Ire), trained by Leslie Young, and Rhyhmia, trained by McKenna.

The Steward's ruling reinstated Crealion, and dropped Master Sevile to second and Project Two to third.

With that ruling, it meant that Korrell had ridden two winners, Crealion and The Butler Yates in the Timber Stakes and a second placed horse, Hey Teacher..

 "Crealion has run about 35 times," said Korrell. "Tom got him last year, and I rode him in some races. Then he wasn't himself this spring, so we gave him the summer off. He's a nice horse, and he jumped really well." 

The Butler Yates, owned by Greenlights, trained by Young and ridden by Korrell, won the $25,000, 3 1/2 mile Timber Stakes by 3/4 length in 6:54 2/3 over Goodoldtimes, trained by Beecher, and Hard Games, trained by Neilson.

"I rode and schooled The Butler Yates quite a lot when I worked for Leslie."said Korrell. "He's very uncomplicated now. He used to be quirky, when he came over from Ireland. He used to be very slow over the fences, but that was the best he's ever jumped." 

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Cool Jet won the $75,000 Mariann De Tejeda Memorial at Foxfield

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October 7, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va--Cool Jet (Ire), trained by Jack Fisher, won the G3, 12 1/8 mile, $75,000 Mariann De Tejeda Memorial at the Foxfield Fall Races on Sunday, Oct. 6.

Cool Jet winning the Commonwealth Cup (Photo by Tod Marks)Owned by Riverdee Stable and ridden by Bernie Dalton, the 9 year-old Cool Jet won by 4 3/4 lengths over Foxy Walk (Ire), trained by Leslie Young, with Who's Counting, trained by Sean McDermott, third, finishing in 4:03, the fastest time of the day.

The favored Snap Decision, owned by Bruton Street-US and also trained by Fisher, finished fifth. 

"Cool Jet came to me from Pat Doyle as a 6-year-old, and he's been sterling ever since," said Sean Clancy, head of the Rverdee syndicate. "He's a hard trying over-achiever."

Cool Jet has run 12 times for Riverdee Stable with five wins, three seconds, a third and two fourths after racing in England and Ireland as a 4- and 5-year old.

"He'll run next a the G2 at the International Gold Cup," said Clancy. "It depends on how he does there where he goes after that. He's not gong to Far Hills. The 2 5/8 mile race would be too far for him."

Fisher was unavailable for comment as he was in hospital following a fall.

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Graham Motion, Jack Fisher, Keri Brion, Liz Merryman and Michael Matz have winners

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September 30, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

FAIR HILL, Md.--Over the past month, Graham Motion has had 11 winners, including five stakes winners, Jack Fisher had  $170,000 Maiden winner, Keri Brion and Liz Merryman had four winners each, and Michael Matz had a winner.

Jack Fisher Fisher saddled Bruton Street-US' The Jackal, ridden by Forest  Boyce, to win a $170.000, 1 1/2 mile Maiden Special Weight turf race at Kentucky Downs by 3/4 length on Aug. 31.

The Jackal, a 5-year-old by Medaglio D'Oro out of a Tapit mare.was trained by Chug McGaughey for Woodford Racing from July 2024 to October, 2024 with one second and one third in maiden special weight races, and then was purchased by Bruton Street to become a steeplechase horse.

Fisher ran him over hurdles at Colonial Downs on Aug. 7, and he won.

"He can't jump," said Fisher despite his win. "He won that race, but I thought he was going to fall over every fence on the backside."

So Fisher entered him on the flat and won the $170,000 Maiden Special Weight at Kentucky Downs.

"He's in the field now" said Fisher. "Then when we bring him back up, we'll teach him how to jump this winter."

When The Jackal does learn how to jump,  he looks like he'll be another powerhouse for Fisher and Bruton Street.

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Jack Fisher had three winners including Keys Discount in the Timber Stakes at Shawan Downs

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September 28, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

HUNT VALLEY, Md.--Jack Fisher dominated the races at Shawan Downs, winning three of the six races and finishing second in one and third in two others on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Keys Discount leads over the last in the Brown Advisory Stakes (Photo by Tod Marks)Fisher's three winners included Maiden and Allowance Hurdle winners and the winner of the Timber Stakes.

He saddled Keys Discount, owned by his mother, Mrs. John R.S.Fisher and ridden by Graham Watters to win the $25,000 3 1/8 mile Brown Advisory Timber Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths in 6:46 2/5 over Animal Kingston, trained by Neil Morris, and Queens Empire (Ire), also trained by Fisher.

"Keys Discount has stamped himself as the horse to beat," said Fisher. "It was the way he won it that was so impressive. He won it easily."

"He'll go to Middleburg next," he said. 

Keys Discount has now won three hurdle stakes this year, beginning with the Virginia Gold Cup and then the Middleburg Hunt Cup and now at Shawan Downs.

Fisher's horses finished first and second in the first race on the card,  the $20,000 Maiden Three Year Old Hurdle.

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Keeeneland September Yearling Sale set records

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September 25, 2025

By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky--The Keeneland September Yearling Sales 12 day sale that ended Saturday, Sept. 30 set records across the board including the number of $ million plus yearlings sold, gross, average and median.

Keeneand sales topperThe Keeneland sale sells in blocks, with the yearlings that are graded the highest sold first.

The first six days set records, but, as been true of sales for the past few years, the yearlings auctioned late in the sale were hard pressed to meet their expenses of combined stud fee and costs of raising a foal and costs of taking them to the sale.

The top yearlings bring incredibly high prices, like buying a yearling for over a million when you have no idea if it will even make it to the races much less become a champion, but no one wants the unfashionably bred ones or the ones with minor imperfections.

At Keeneland, 56  $1 million yearlings were among numerous high marks that define a record-setting auction.

Over 12 sessions, the sale rewrote records by selling 3,070 horses for a total of $531.5 million: the highest gross ever realized at a Thoroughbred auction worldwide.

Historic highlights included 56 yearlings bringing seven figures, besting the previous record of 40 set in 2005 and led by a $3.3 million Gun Runner colt purchased by M.V. Magnier, Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm and Ron Winchell’s Winchell Thoroughbreds.

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Mark Beecher saddled Timetoshine to win $100,000 hurdle at Colonial

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September 12, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

NEW KENT, Va..--TimetoShine (Fr) won the !00,000 Life''s Illusion 2 1/4 mile Filly and Mare Hurdle Stakes at Colonial Downs on Thursday, Sept. 11.

Timetoshine (Photo by Coady Media)Trained by Mak Beecher, owned by Runnymoore Racing and ridden by Dan Nevin, Timetoshine won by 8 lengths over Anador (Fr), trained by Todd McKenna, and Madaket's Arrow trained by Kate Dalton, finishing in 4{03.86.

"That was a massive win," said Beecher. "It was a great pick-up for us."

"I bought her iin May for Runnymoore," he said. "She'd been running in England. I got her acclimated to the heat here. This was her first race in this country."

"Her owners never put any pressure on me to race her," Beecher said. "They said, run her when she's ready."

"Today was perfect for her," he said. "A little overcast, and the ground was a little yielding."

"She's a lovely, light-type mare," Beecher said, ""We'll get her home and see how she is, She'll probably run next in the filly and mare stake at Far Hills."

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Successful Fair Hill Races leads to plans for additonal meets

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September 3, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

ELKTON, Md--Officials have declared the Fair Hill Races on Aug. 30 to have been a success and say that there will be another meet over Memorial Day weekend.

Fair Hill turf course "We were thrilled with the day," said George Mahoney, Chairman of the Maryland Racing Commission.

"This was a good first step," said Joe Clancy, a member of Sports Corp., the group that organized the meet. "We puposely didn't have any jump races. We didn't want to compete against Colonial Downs or Saratoga or hurt their entries. We held the number of entries to eight in the interest of safety, and we didn't charge admission."

"We got a good crowd, and I think that the people that came had a good time," said Clancy. "The total betting handle was $56,5503. The total handle is always going to be small, and that never was a money maker, but it's a tradition to have betting. In the old days the handle was around $200,00, but 75 percent of that goes back to the betters and 25 percent is divided between the races, which pay all the expense of betting, and the Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources."

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Taylor Kingsley won two races at the first meet held at Fair Hill in six years

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September 1, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

ELKTON, Md.--Recently turned professional Taylor Kingsley rode two winners as racing returned to the Fair Hill turf course on Saturday, Aug, 30 after six long years. 

Taylor Kingsley (File photo)The day, which featured six flat turf races, all without a starting gate but with para-mutual betting, was very successful despite a few minor glitches.

Kingsley won both divisions of the $20,000, 1 mile and five furlongs Starter Allowance, one for Tom Garner and one for her father Arch Kingsley.

Garner saddled Bonita Farm's Fightnomoreforever to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Fenwick, trained by Garner, and Mortal Sin trained by Danielle Hodsdon.

"Fightnomoreforever was a professional," said Kingsley. "He really didn't need me at all. When a hole opened up on the turn, I didn't have to ask him, he just went through it."

"I was delighted to win at the first races  back at Fair Hill," she said. "It was like christening the track. I would love to win one for my Dad at this track."

So in the very next race, she did just that, winning on Gossiper.

"That was brilliant, wasn't it," said Kingsley. "Perfect timing. That was my first win for him as a professional. i still want to win for him at a flat track out of the gate."

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Jimmy P, trained by Keri Brion, won the G1 Sheppard at Saratoga

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August 27, 2025

By Staff Writers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. --Keri Brion continued her incredible week-long stretch with yet another win, this time with Jimmy P in the G1 Jonathan Sheppard Memorial Hurdle Handicap on Wednesday, Aug, 27 at Saratoga,

Jimmy P, saddlecloth 9, outduels Zarak the Brave to win the Sheppard (Photo by Tod Marks)Brion has now won seven races in seven days, four on the flat and three over fences.

Madaket Stables, Molly Willis and Paul Willis’ Jimmy , ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, won by 3/4 length over Zarak the Brave, trained by Tom Garner, and Hidden Path, trained by Ricky Henriks.

Jimmy P had blinkers taken off by Brion and successfully defended his title in the G1, $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard, a 2 3/8-mile hurdle handicap for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.

Jimmy P had run five times between winning the Sheppard last year and then again this year, not hitting the board in any of those five races.

Brion said she took the blinkers off Jimmy P to help keep his interest throughout the race.

“He’ll outwork anything in the morning and then you put him in the race and he’s just kind of nonchalant about it,” Brion said. “So, I put them on and then I thought let’s just change it back up again, take them off, just keep messing with him a little bit – he did nothing wrong last year in this race, let’s just do exactly the same thing.”

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Jack Fisher had a flat Stakes winner in Mission North

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August 23, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

NEW KENT, Va.--Leading steeplechase trainer Jack Fisher saddled Mission North to win the $125,000 Find Stakes at Colonial Downs on Saturday, Aug, 16.

Mission North (Photo by Coady Media)Owned and bred by Northwoods Stable, Mission North, ridden by Forest Boyce, won the 1 1/16 mlle turf Stakes by 3/4 length over Giganter, trained by Steve Asmussen.

Fisher has alternated Mission North between flat races and steeplechase races, with great success in both.

Mission North now has four wins and a third in five starts this year, with an overall record of six wins and two thirds from 13 starts.

Fisher ran hm on the flat in '23 and '24 before winning his first start this year, which was also his first race over fences, at Old Dominion Hounds in a Maiden Special Weight in April.

Since then, he's won the Speedy Smithwick Hurdle Stake at Great Meadow, an Allowance race at Laurel and now in Find Stakes.

"He'll run one more time on the flat at Colonial and then go to the 4-year-old Stakes at Far Hills," said Fisher.

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Brion has two Maiden winners and Neilson has a Handicap winner at Colonial

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August 21, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

NEW KENT, Va.--Keri Brion had the winners of both $60,000 Maiden Hurdle races on Thursday, Aug. 21 at Colonial Downs, while Kathy Neilson saddled the winner of the $35,000 Handicap Hurdle.

Swore (Photo by Photos Coady Media)Brion also had two winners at Saratoga in the afternoon for four winners in one day - quite a day!

Swore, trained by Brion and ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, won the first race, a $60,000, 2 1/4 mile Maiden Hurdle, by 2 1/4 lengths over Gratia Prince, trained by Barry Foley and ridden by Bernie Dalton, and Predominate, trained by Todd McKenna and ridden by Freddie Procter.

"Swore is a nice horse for Stone Farm and Upland Flats, which is owned by Patrick Lewis ," said Brion. "He's one of my nicest new horses to go jumping."

A 6-year-old by Broken Vow out of a Ghostzapper mare, Swore was trained by Graham Motion through his 5-year-old year with one win, in an allowance race, two seconds and two thirds.

He was second in his first race for Brion, a maiden hurdle at Colonial. 

Swore ran third for much of race, moved to the inside on the final turn to get to the lead with a furlong to go and edged clear to win in a drive by 2 1/4 lengths. 

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Little Trilby won the $75,000 Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes at Saratoga

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August 15, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Ricky Hendriks saddled Little Trilby (GB)  to win the $75,000, 2 3/8 mile Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes at Saratoga on Wednesday, Aug. 13.

Little Trilby, running second to last early in the race (Photo by Tod Marks)Del Rio's Litlle Trilby, ridden by Conor Tierney, won by 12 1/4 lengths in 4:40.29 over Travesuras, trained by Cyril Murphy, with the favorite Roja Redemption another 7 lengths back in third.

Carloun went into the lead from the flag drop but pecked badly losing his rider, giving the lead to Roja Redemption,, who led through the back side and over the last fence.

Litlle Tilby was racing near the back of the seven horse field, moving forward through the backstretch and moved into contention after the last fence.

He caught Roja Redemption on the final turn and went into the lead at the top of the stretch,extending his lead to win easily by 12 1/4 lengths.

This was Little Trlby's second win since being imported last August.

He won the Holiday Stakes in Aiken last November, then finished second in the Carolina Cup Hurdle Stakes in Camden in March.

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Saratoga New York bred sale set records across the board

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August 13, 2025

By Staff Writers

SARATOGA SPRINS, N.Y.--The first session of the 2025 Fasig-Tipton New York Bred Yearlings sale, conducted Sunday evening, Aug. 10 echoed the momentum from last week’s record-breaking Saratoga Sale, and then the second and final session  Monday afternoon established new sale records for gross, average, and median.

Saratoga NY-bred sales topper, a filly by Early VotingOver the two sales, two yearlings sold for $525,000, a colt by Practical Joke and a filly by Early Voting.

The opening session was marked by increases in gross, average, and median, and featured several historically significant prices among the offerings.

"There was plenty of money and not enough horses" said top sales agent Russell Jones of Unionville, Pa.

A filly from the first crop of G1 Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting (hip 331) topped the session when sold for $525,000 to Jones/Everett, agent for Sabby and Gargon Racing .

The price is the second highest paid for a filly at the New York Bred Yearlings sale, second only to a Malibu Moon filly sold in 2019. 

“It was an outstanding opening session of the 2025 New York Bred Yearlings sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “The quality of the New York-breds that we’re exposed to in our inspection process continues to improve each and every year and that was indicative of the results tonight.”

Also among the top prices for the first session was a filly by Practical Joke (hip 329) sold for $500,000 to Repole Stable from the consignment of Hunter Valley Farm, agent.

The price tied the third most expensive filly in this sale’s history, tied with an Outwork filly sold in 2019. T

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Laurelin, trained by Graham Motion, won again to remain undefeated in five starts

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August 9, 2025

By Staff Writers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y--Undefeated Laurelin, trained by Graham Motion, won the Gr2, $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational, a 1 3/16 mile Mellon turf race,on Saturday, Aug. 9 to keep her perfect record intact.

Laurelin in the winners circleWinning by 1 3/4 lengths, the 3-year-old chestnut filly is undefeated in five starts, all on the turf, beginning with a Maiden win at Belmont followed by wins at Aqueduct in the Tepin Stakes last November and the Memories of Silver Stakes in April and then the Penn Oaks Stakes  at Penn National in June. 

“It’s very hard to go 5-for-5 and I don’t think I’ve ever had a horse do that before,” said Motion. “A lot of things have to go right, and they have to be very good. I feel like we’ve done right by her and tried to go step-by-step and this was a logical time to go into a graded race.

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Jack Fisher saddled The Jackal to win the $60,000 Maiden Hurdle at Colonial

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August 7, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

NEW KENT, Va.--The Jackal, trained by Jack Fisher, won the $60,000, 2 1/4 mile Maiden Special Weight Hurdle at Colonial Downs on Thursday, Aug, 7.

The Jackal winning at Colonial (Photo by Coady Media)Owned by Bruton Street-US and ridden by Graham Watters, The Jackal came from far back in the eight horse field to make a huge run after the last fence, going three wide on the final turn and drew off to win by 8 1/2 lengths ovder In Effect, trained by Neil Morris and Perfect Reel (Ire), trained by Kathy Neilson.

A $60,000 purse in a Maiden race is huge for hurdle horses, and this was the third one Fisher has won at Colonial.

"I don't understand why more trainers didn't save their maidens to run at Colonial," said Fisher.

This was The Jackal''s first sanctioned race over fences after running in a couple of point-to-points earlier in the year.

"I was surpised by this win"said Fisher. "I thought he was going to pull up when he was second to last on the backstretch the last time around."

Clancy Bloodstock bought The Jackal the November Keeneland Sale for $37,000 last year, and he went to Fisher to train.

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Lizzie Merryman's colt out of Zeezee Zoomzoom sold for $1.4 million at Saratoga Yearling Sale

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August 5, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Elizabeth M. (Lizzie) Merryman bred the Justify colt out of her mare Zeezee Zoomzoom, and on Monday, Aug. 4 she sold the colt for $1.4 million to Sheikh Fahad Al Thani’s Qatar Racing at the Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale..

Lizziie Merryman Merryman got Zee Zee Zoomzoom for free, and the mare has turned out to be a gold mine.

Zeezee Zoomzoom has had eight foals, including this colt, and a foal at foot by Nyquist, five of which are winners and two pf then major stakes winners.

"She was recommended by a friend of mine,  Kim Brette," said Merryman. "She was out of a really nice mare, and she broke her maiden at Saratoga on Travers Day. I was looking for a brood mare at the time, so I took her."

Zeezee Zoomzoom's first foal was Caravel, whose 15 wins included the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Another was Witty, who, trained by Merryman, has won won 10 races so far with his most recent win being the Jim McKay Turf Sprint at Pimlico on May 17.

Merryman almost sent Zeezee Zoomzoom, in foal to Justify, to a sale in late 2024 but finally decided against it. and the foal was born in 2024.

The foal grew up on Buffalo Run farm in Coatesille, Pa., owned by Merryman and her husband Bill Rubin.

Rubin raises buffalo on the farm while Merryman raises thoroughbreds.

The yearling was sent to Hunter Valley Farm to prep for the sale and was sold at Saratoga by Hunter Farm as agent for Merryman.

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Hidden Path won an Allowance Hurdle at Saratoga for trainer Ricky Hendriks

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July 30, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Hidden Path, trained by Ricky Hendriks, went from last to first to win the $70,000 Allowance Hurdle at Saratoga on Wednesday, July 30.

Hidden Path, ridden by Conor Tierney, drew off in the stretch to win at Saratoga (Photo by Tod Marks)Owned by Upland Flats Racing and ridden by Conor Tierney, Hidden Path won by 1 3/4 lengths over St. James the Great, trained by Keri Brrion, with Brie's Mission, trained by Kathy Neilson, third.

Hidden Path was last for most of the race, moving up through the field of nine starters towards the end of the backstretch, hooking up with the favorite, St.James the Great, on the final turn and taking the lead a furlong from the finish.

"He's a very nice horse," said Hendriks. "We gave him the spring off because we campaigned him pretty hard last year. Conor gave him a wonderful ride."

He said he hadn't expected Hidden Path to be that far back

"Conor said.`Ricky will tell me I had him too far back,'" said Hendriks.

He said they hadn't decided where Hidden Patch will run next.

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Starlifter won the $60,000 Maiden Hurdle at Colonial Downs

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July 24, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

NEW KENT, Va.--Jack Fisher saddled Starlifter to win the $60,000, 2 1/4 mile Maiden Special Weight Hurdle at Colonial Downs on Thursday, July 24.

Starlifter wins at Colonial (Photo by Coady Media)Matthew T. Goff's Starlifter, ridden by Graham Watters, won his first sanctioned race over fences by a nose over In Effect, trained by Neil Morris,and Arturo Toscanini (Ire), trained by Keri Brion.

"He was ready to go to Middleburg, but then I saw the purse money a Colonial," said Fisher.

Stalifter moved up to second on the clubhouse turn and moved up to join In Effect for the lead at the last fence.

Starlifter and In Effect battled stride for stride down the stretch with Starlifter edging ahead to win by a nose.

"In the stretch, I was hoping he'd be second," said Fisher.  "That way I'd make more money as he'd get this purse and another when he wins. He'll go to Shawan next .He's not a Saratoga horse."

Before Groff's ownership and his running over fences, Starlifter ran in flat races in 2023 and 2024 as a 2- and 3-year-old, mainly in claiming races at Laurel, winning once and hitting the board in about half of his 14 races.

With this win, Fisher increased his lead in Trainer, Races Won to five,with 15 wins to second placed Leslie Young and Kathy Neilson, with 10 each.

In Trainer, Money Won, Fisher has more than double amount than his closest pursuer, with $751,650 to Brion''s $353.550 and Young's $343.150, and he is well on his way to another $1 million year.

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Graham Motion had five stakes winners in a month, Keri Brion and Ricky Hendriks also had mutliple winners

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July 22, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

FAIR HILL, Md.--Graham Motion had five stakes winners along with eight other winners over the past month, including two stakes wins at Delaware Park and a G1 win at Saratoga.

Graham Motion (Photo by Coady Photography)Motion began his five stakes win streak on June 14 with a win in the $300,000, 1 1/16 mile, G3 Delaware Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Madaket Stables' Fondly won by 3 lengths after taking the early lead and kicking clear in the stretch.

Newstead Stables'' Laurelin won the $150,000,1 mile Penn Oaks Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on the turf by 1 1/4 lengths at Penn National on June.27.

Amerman Racing's homebred Test Score won the $750,000, G1, 1 1/8 mile Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes for 3-year olds on the turf at Saraoga on July 4.

Test Score ran two wide for most of the race, angled out five wide into the stretch and won by 1 1/4 lengths.

Cayton Park Stud's homebred Marksman Queen (GB) won the $250,000, G3 1 1/4 mile Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes for fillies and mares 3 and up on the turf by a head at Delaware Park on July 5.

Motion won a second stakes for Eclipse Partners and Madaket Stables with Roja in the $102,000, 5 1/2 furlong Blue Sparkler Stakes for 3-year-olld fillies on the turf, winning by 3 1/2 lengths at Delaware Park on July 12.

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Jack Fisher had two winners over hurdles at Colonial Downs

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July 18, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

KENT, Va.--Jack Fiaher saddled two winners for Riverdee Stables, including Cyber Ninja, the winner of the $60,000 Maiden Special Weight Hurdle, at Colonial Downs on Thursday, July 17.

Cyber Ninja (Photo by Coady Media)Cyber Ninja, ridden by Danny Mullins, won the 2 1/4 mile b 6 1/4lengths over Swore, trained by Keri Brion,and Cadogan Place, trained by Richard Valentine.

That was Cyber Ninja's first sanctioned race over fences after racing on the flat in allowance races and a couple of stakes.

"He ran at Old Dominion Point-to-Point, just as a school," said Fisher.

Riverdee acquired Cyber Ninja late last year after he had been campaigned by his owner/breeder George Krikorian.

"He's been schooling over fences since January," said Fisher. "We saved him for this race at Colonial because the purse was so good. He'll go back and forth from flat to hurdle races."

Roja Redemption, ridden by Grahan Watters, won the $35,000 Handicap by 14 1/2 lengths over Kicking Myself, trained by Sean McDermott, and Dante's Fire, trained by  Neil Morris.

Roja Redemption made a big move after the eighth fence and drew off to win easily under wraps.

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Blue Creek won the Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes at Saratoga

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July 17, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Blue Creek, trained by Keri Brion, won the Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes at Saratoga on Wednesday, July 16.

Blue Creek, left, duels China Beach (Photo by Tod Marks)Owned by Upland Flats Racing and ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, Blue Creek won by 4 1/4 lengths in 4:34.86 over China Beach, trained by Kate Dalton, and Quick Master, trained by Jack Fisher.

Blue Creek ran in the back of the pack  for the first circuit and then steadily made his was forward through the field of remaining seven horses.

L'Avvpcato had lost his rider on the first turn when jockey Freddie Procter's stirrup broke, and Kitten Around left the course before the third fence when he got rank.

Blue Creek began to make his move after the  last fence and went into the lead a furlong out, edging clear under a drive to win by 4 1/4 lengths.

He was pulled up not long after the finish, Mulqueen jumped off him, and he was eventually vanned off in the equine ambulance.

"Blue Creek ran a huge race," said Brion. "He took a bad step galloping out, but he's doing well."

"he has a minor suspensory injury, and he will run again," said Brion. "He's a really nice young horse, and we're looking forward to having him back next year."

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Racing at Fair Hill finally to resume Aug. 30

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July 10, 2025

By Staff Writers

FAIR HILL, Md.--Racing in finally going to be held again over the turf track at Fair Hill, with six flat races scheduled for Aug. 30.

Racing at Fair HillThe Maryland Department of Natural Resources made the announcement in a meeting at Fair Hill on July 10.

That will be the first time racing will be held at Fair Hill in six years, since 2019.

Horses have been training over the turf course for a few weeks, and the turf ha received top marks from trainers. 

The steeplechase community was upset by the late notice of the meeting, which was only announced on Monday, July 8, two days before the meeting, and also upset about the date of the meeting.

Three steeplechase races were scheduled for July 10 at Colonial, and although they were cancelled as all races were taken off the turf, it was too late for most owners and trainers to get to Fair Hill.

Bill Gallo, Director of Racing for NSA, and Joe Clancy, editor of The Saratoga Special, were in Saratoga.

Charlie Fenwick, president of the Fair Hill Foundation, was on his way to Colonial Downs when he heard the jump races were cancelled, and he turned around and made it back to Fair Hill in time for the meeting, which he said was held in the stands with only about 50 people in attendance 

The Maryland DNR issued a press release about the meeting,

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Travesuras, trained by Cyril Murphy and ridden by Gerard Galligan, won at Laurel

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June 17, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

LAUREL,Md.--Travesuras, trained by Cyril Murphy and ridden by Gerard Galligan, won the $45,000, 2 1/8 mile Allowance Hurdle at Laurel on Sunday, June 15. 

Travesuras, ridden by Gerard Galligan, winning at Laurel (Photo by James McCue)Owned by Irv Naylor, Travesuras traveled mid pack in the seven horse race, moved forward on the final turn, found a gap in the stretch and caught and passed Biggerthanbigtime (Ire), trained by Barry Foley, who had led throughout the entire race, to win by 1/2 length, with Madeket's Arrow, trained by Kate Dalton, third. 

"I got Travesuras in October, 2022," said Murphy. "He's been a solid horse for us. He always runs his race. " 

Travesurus had previously run over fences in England, and his first race for Murphy was at Colonial Downs on Aug. 18, 2023.

"He was too fresh for his own good," said Murphy. "He popped and popped Gerard off. He learned from that and never did it again."

Since that ace, Travesuras has hit the board in nine of the 11 races he's run, and now has a record in this country of two firsts, three seconds and four thirds from 12 starts and total earnings of $105,515.

"He's more than paying his way," said Murphy,

"His jumping has always been his strong point," said Murphy. "He broke his maiden at Radnor last year. At the time, I didn't think he could handle Saratoga. Then he got an ankle and missed the early fall.

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Holey Moley, ridden by Virginia Korrell, won at Laurel

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June 16, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

LAUREL, Md.--Holey Moley, ridden by Virginia Korrell, won the $40.000, 2 1/8 mile Maiden Special Weight Steeplechase at Laurel on Sunday, June 15.

Holey Moley ridden by Virginia Korrell (Photo by James McCue)Owned by Molly and Paul Willis and trained by Barry Foley, Holey Moley ran second throughout most of the race, moved into the lead on the final turn and went on to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Awesome Man, trained by Todd Wyatt, with Derby Street, trained by Jack Fisher, third.

"I've had Holey Moley for about eight or nine months," said Foley. "We bought him privately."

Holey Moley ran in claiming races, mainly at Laurel , in 2023 and 2034 with one in before transitioning to hurdles in 2025, finishing fourth, sixth and second at Radnor in his previous runs over fences.

"I'd never ridden Holey Moley before, but I watched him race this spring," said Korell. "He waa ridden by James O'Sullivan, but he had to go back to Ireland to get his visa sorted out. Barry called me a week ago and asked if I'd ride him."

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Hendriks family, Wendy, son Ricky and grandson McLane, have winners, Motion, Brion, Fisher and Merryman also have winners

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June 14, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa.--Wendy Hendriks had a number of winners over last winter and spring, including three at Tampa Bay Downs, all trained by her son Ricky.

Wendy Hendriks Dynamic Actress won a Maiden Claiming race in January, then finished second twice in Optional Claiming races before winning again on May 4 in a $330,000 Starter Optional Claiming race at 1mile on the turf, with all at her races at Tampa Bay.

Ricky and McLane HenriksDynamic Actress runs as owned by Ken Kachel, but all those that run in the name of Kachel are actually owned by Kachel and Wendy and Ricky Hendriks.

"We bought her as a yearling and got her Delaware certified," said Wendy Hendriks.

Dynamic Actress has now won twice, and finished second twice and third once from six starts.

That threesome won two other races, both with Whirlwind, who won a $20,00, 1 1/16 mile Claiming race on the turd in March and  a $27,500 1mile turf Claiming race in April.

Whirlwind, a 3-year-old Filly, now has won twice from two starts.

Wendy as an owner on her own had a winner in Casino Night, who won a $12,000 5 1/2 furlong Maiden Claiming race at Delaware Park on May 24, also trained by Ricky.

"Casino Night won, we ran her again, and she got claimed," said Wendy.

Wendy's grandson McLane is now also training racehorses, and he too saddled a winner.

Joy Slater's Chevy Man won a $42,215, 1 1/16 mile turf Maiden Claiming race at Laurel on May 26.

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Mark Beecher won the Open Hurdle with Decisive Triumph at the Potomac Hunt Races

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May 20, 2025

By SARA CAVANAGH

SENECA, Md.--Mark Beecher saddled Decisive Triumph to win the $7,500 Preakness Open Hurdle on Sunday, May 18 at the Potomac Hunt Races.

Mark Beecher, while still a jockey, on Professor Maxwell in the Maryland Hunt Cup without stirrups over the 13thDaniel R.Baker's Decisive Triumph, ridden by Dan Nevin, won the 2 1/8 mile Open Hurdle in 4:39 3/5 over Total Joy (Ire), trained by Leslie Young, and Brie's Mission, trained by Kathy Neilson.

Decisive Triumph is a multiple handicap and allowance winner in sanctioned races, and he was running in the last point-to-point of the spring season.

"I wanted to get a run in him before the summer," said Beecher. "He's 12, so he's too old to run at Saratoga, and he's rated above118, so he's too highly rated to run at Colonial Downs. So Potomac was my only option to get a run in him. We'll run him again in the fall."

"He jumped off second, then went to the lead," said Beecher. "He hooked up with Total Joy. They ding-donged down to the last, and then he pulled away to win."

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