CAMDEN, S.C.--Leslie Young had three winners, including Caramelised (GB) in the Novice Hurdle Stakes, at the Carolina Cup on April 1, and moved into the early lead to defend her title in Trainer, Races Won.

Caramelised early in Carolina Cup (Photo by Tod Marks)Ricky Hendriks saddled Fightinirishtabit to win the Ratings handicap, and that gave him 700  steeplechase training wins.

Caramelised, owned by Sharon E. Sheppard and ridden by David England, won the $50,000 Carolina Cup Novice Hurdle Stakes by 1 length over Welshman, trained by Jack Fisher.

"Caramelised is a lovely horse,"said Young. "We bought him privately from a trainer in England. He's only about 16 hands, he's not a big horse, but we thought he'd do well over here."

"We were hopeful going into the race and happy with theoutcome," said Young. "He came out of the race well, so he'll probably go to the novice race at the Queen's Cup."

Thomas S. Rice's Lumberjack, ridden by Mikey Hamil, won the $25,000 Maiden Claiming Hurdle by a head over Undercover Rowdy, trained by Ker Brion.

"We bought Lumberjack at Keeneland a few years ago," said Young. "The one day, when he was sleeping in his stall, he go up quickly and injured his hock. He had surgery on that hock,, so he was out of training after that."

 

"WE WERE pleasantly surprised with his win," said Young. "He went past the second placed horse, then that horse came back and got in front, then Lumberjack went by him again at the wire. Mikey gave him a great ride. He'll probably go to Tryon, but I'm not sure which race, there's two he's eligible for."

Ricky HendriksMichael A. Smith's The Hero Next Door (Ire) won the $30,000 Maiden Hurdle by 19 lengths over Sa'ad (Fr), trained by Brion.

"What an amazing horse," said Young. "We bought him at Tattersalls. He's such a beautiful looking horse. He'd won a point-to-point in Ireland.  Maybe he'll go to the Gold Cup in the never won two."

"We have such a good group of horses," said Young. "We have a great group of owners and wonderful help."

Hendriks saddled Daniel M.Denefro's Fightinirishtabit, ridden by Harry Beswick, to win the $25,000 Ratings Handicap Hurdle by 3 1/2 lengths over Ping Pong Champ, trained by Jack Fisher,and that win was his 700th as a trainer.

Hendriks also won 131 races as a jockey, when he rode for 10 years.

"It was great," said Hendriks of the win. "Winning 700 was quite an accomplishment. I'm not sue where Fightinirish tabit will go next. I haven't talked to the owners."

"I have about 25 horses in training," said Hendriks. "I probably have a few more flat horses in training now than steeplechase horses."

Kate Dalton saddled Joseph F. FowlerJr.'s Met in Miami, ridden by Bernie Dalton, to win the $30,000 Maiden Hurdle, second division, by 1 1/2 lengths over Imonlysayng (Ire), trained by Brion.

Arch Kingsley saddled Hudson River Farms' Cibolian, ridden by his daughter Taylor, to win the Training Flat by a nose over Kiyomori, trained by Janet Elliot.

Young now leads in Trainer, Races Won with four wins over Hendriks, who has three wins, and Brion with two wins.

Beswick leads in Rider,Races Won with four wins over last years Leading Rider Parker Hendriks, who has two wins, and England with two wins.