MONKTON, Md.--Leslie Young saddled two winners, including Tomgarrow (Ire) in the $50,000 My Lady's Manor Timber Stakes, at the Manor on Saturday, April 15.

Tomgarrow with Freddie Procter ridingLeipers Fork Steeplechasers' Tomgarrow, ridden by Freddie Procter, won the Manor Stakes for the second year in a row, finishing in 5.53.6, 6 seconds, slower than the track record of 5:47.30 set by Zanclus in 2018.

Tomgarrow won by 19 lengths over an eased Vintage Vinnie, trained by Joe Davies and ridden by Teddy Davies, with Mystic Strike, trained by Todd McKenna, 11 lengths further back in third, and the only other starter, Goodoldtimes, fourth.

"He jumped great,"said Procter. "We were going very fast in the beginning."

Vintage Vinnie, who won the Manor Stakes in 2021, went out to a big lead, which is his modus operandi.

"I was just trying to stay in touch with Vintage Vinnie," said Procter. "We caught up to him five fences from home. Vintage Vinnie made a slight mistake at the fence three from home, and that's where we beat him."

 

"TOMGARROW isn't going to the Maryland Hunt Cup," said Young. "That was never the plan. He's going to the Gold Cup."

Tomgarrow won the Gold Cup in 2021 but didn't run there last year.

"He had a quarter crack last year, so we gave him some time off," said Young.

The Manor is often used as a prep for the Maryland Hunt Cup, and Vintage Vinnie, who won the Hunt Cup n 2021 and 2022, is going for a third win there again this year.

Tuscany Racing's Stolen Shoes, ridden by Procter, won the $20,000 Maiden Special Weight by 25 lengths over Mr. Fine Threads, trained by Davies, the only two finishers in the five horse race.

A huge thunderstorm had rolled through Monkton between the Stakes and the Maiden, and racing had been held up for over 45 minutes while everyone sought shelter from the lightning, and the heavy rain left the going very deep.

"Stolen Shoes was great," said Young. "He stayed on great despite the ground. We're thinking maybe of Winterthur for him."

Kathy Neilson saddled Armata Stable' Fashion Line, ridden by Conor Tierney, to win the first division of he $20,000  Maiden Timber by 11/4 lengths over To Be or Not To Be, trained by Davies, with Brooklyn Speights third, eased in the stretch.

Mark Beecher saddled South Brand Equine's Master Seville to win the $15,000 Allowance by 3/4 length over Awesome Adrian, trained by Neilson, with Royal Ruse, trained by Sanna Neilson, third.

Master Seville had previously won at Cheshire after breaking his maiden there in 2022.

Since breaking his maiden, Master Seville has run seven times and hit the board six times with four wins.

National Steeplechasing live streamed both the Manor and Tryon and did a great job of giving both meets very complete coverage.

Earlier on Saturday, the Aintree Grand National in England was run, supposedly at 12:15 Eastern time, but the race was delayed about a half hour as police cleared animal activist protesters from the course.

The favorite, Corach Rambler (Ire), trained by Lucinda Russell, won over Vaniillier (Fr), trained by Gavin Cromwell, with Gaillard Du Mesnil (Fr), trained by Willie Mullins, third, and last year's winner, Noble Yeats (Ire), trained by Emmet Mullins, fourth.

Cape Gentleman, owned by American Pierre Manigault and trained by Shark Hanlon, was pulled up about halfway through the race.

Arch Kingsley, who will get the horse to train for Manigault, who races under the name of Hurricana, following the Grand National, flew over to watch the race with wife Wendy and daughter Taylor.