WEST CHESTER, Pa.--Joe Davies saddled Armata Stables' Our Friend (Ire), ridden by son Teddy, to win the Open Timber at the Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point on Saturday, April 1.
Teddy Davies with his trophy for the Open Timber winMany of the horses entered at Brandywine were prepping for one or more of the three major timber race, My Lady's Manor, the Grand National and the Maryland Hunt Cup.
Our Friend won the maiden race at My Lady's Manor last year and is headed back to the Manor again this year.
Brandywine organizing committee at Brandywine must be living right, because it poured rain all Saturday morning, clearing off just in time for the first pony race, when the sun came out and the temperature rose into the 70s, making it possibly the finest weather day Brandywine has ever enjoyed.
And then, just a couple of hours after the last side saddle rider crossed the finish line, a violent thunder storm with winds up to 40 mph swept through the area.
Brandywine had edged itself into a few hours of prime spring weather.
Our Friend and Fashion Line, trained by Kathy Neilson and ridden by Conor Tierney, jumped the last head and head, and battled together through the stretch with Our Friend just edging ahead in the last stride to win by a scant head in the Open Timber race.
"HE JUMPED brilliantly," said Teddy. "He's a fantastic horse. He was also on the team that won the Foxhall Farm team race."
Betsy DeMarino, left, presents trophies to Freddy Procter and Leslie YoungLeslie Young, who chose to attend Brandywine rather than the Carolina Cup, where at the end of the day she had three winners, saddled Tuscany Racing's Stolen Shoes (GB), ridden by Freddie Procter, to win the Novice Timber over Brave Deacon, trained by Joe Davies and ridden by Teddy.
"It's a local meet, and the first time I ever hunted, it was with Brandywine," said Young of her reason for choosing Brandywine over the Colonial Cup.
"I bought Stolen Shoes at Tattersall last spring," said Young. "He was always running third or fourth over hurdles, so we thought he might do better over timber. This was his first start over timber. He'll go to the Grand National in the Maiden next."
"This horse has plenty of scope," said Procter."He'll be better over bigger fences."
Billy Meister saddled Sportsmans Hall's Hill Tie, ridden by Virginia Korrell to win the Ladies race over Blackhall, trained by Davies and ridden by Theresa Dimpfel.
Meister said Hill Tie is aimed for the Grand National and then, if all goes well, the Maryland Hunt Cup.
"He jumped brilliantly," said Korrell. "At one fence, he could easily have put in another stride, but instead he just flew it. He's one of the best jumper I've ever sat on."
Of the prospect of riding in the Maryland Hunt Cup, with its huge, solid fences, Korrell said, "I'm excited."
Kathy Neilson saddled Irv Naylor's Withoutmoreado, ridden by Tierney, to win the Amateur Apprentice Rider over It's Nothing, also trained by Neilson,
"Withoutmoreado hopefully will go the Grand National and then the Maryland Hunt Cup," sad Neilson.
"I've been here since March," said Tierney. "I really like riding over timber. I've ridden eight or nine races here. This horse never missed a fence today."
"I needed a rider, so I reached out to Harley Dunn in Ireland," said Neilson. :He said, `I have one who'll suit,' and sent Conor over. Whether he's ride Withoutmoreado in the Maryland Hunt Cup, we're taking that day by day. Conor hasn't seen the course yet."
Carley Kern on Manero won the Junior Fieldmaster race overTessa Gharadaghian on Saluda Sam.
Cami Kern on Hoof Hearted won the Small Pony race, Abby Taylor on Spur of the Moment won the Medium Pony and Calliope on Oaks Bridget won the Large Pony, while Manuel Aguilera on Thumper won the Lead Line Pony.
