KENNETT SQUARE, Pa.--Leslie Young won two races at the Willowdale Steeplechase on May 13 and moved into a huge lead in Trainer Races Won.
Leslie YoungThomas Rice and Ashwell Stable's Booby Trap, ridden by Conor Tierney, won the $10,000 Apprentice Rider Hurdle by 1 1 /4 lengths over another horse trained by Young, Ashwell Stable's Top Brass (GB).
"Conor got him parked out in the back and got him to relax,"said Young. "There's nothing left for Boob Trap this spring, We'll have to see what his rating is now. If they raise it too high, he might do better to switch to timber. He's a good jumper."
Ashwell Stable's Durragh (Ire), ridden by Tierney, won the $20,000 Ratings Handicap Hurdle by 3/4 length over Rhebus Road (Ire), trained by Willy Dowling, with another two of Young's, Oscar Winner and Wightman (Ire), finishing third and fourth.
"Durragh is a lovely mare," said Young. "I bought her for $6,000 at Doncaster. I thought she was going to win at Foxfield, but she hit the front too early. I just told Conor not to hit the front too often, and he followed instructions well. Conor got her to relax, and she gritted it out."
Young's two wins moved her into a big lead in Trainer Races Won with 19 wins to Jack Fisher's nine wins and Hendriks seven wins, and she also leads in Money Won with $420,350 to Fisher's $404,250 and Hendriks'$109,800.
TIERNEY only came over to this country in March, and his two wins over hurdles at Willowdale were his first two over hurdles in this country, but added to his wins over timber, that includes a win in the Maryland Hunt Cup, gives him a total win of six from 14 starts.
Tierney is tied for third in Rider, Races Won with Barry Foley, while Harry Beswick leads with nine wins and Graham Watters is second with eight wins.
Ricky Hendriks saddled Del Rio Racing's Thomond Park, ridden by Virginia Korrell, to win the $15,000 Maiden Claiming race by 2 3/4 lengths over Eye of Gunfighter, trained by Lawrence Smith.
Willy Dowling saddled Kiplin Hall's Renegade River, ridden by George Daly, to win the $35,000 Timber Stakes by 8 11/2 lengths over Flaming Sword (Ire), trained by Richard Valentine.
Monbeg Stream led early, while Flaming Sword was distanced early in the race.
Flaming Sword made a big move to catch up as the field reached the top of the course, and after Great Road fell and Monbeg Stream pulled up, was the only finisher behind Renegade River.
Irvin Crawford's To Be or Not To Be, trained by Joe Davies and ridden by Eric Poretz, won the $15,000 Maiden Timber by 1 3/4 lengths over Paddy's Crown, trained y Emily Hannu.
Poretz did a great job of staying on when To Be or Not To Be almost fell while leading, but he pulled To Be or Not To be together again and went on to win.
Kathy Neilson saddled Nancy Reed's Awesome Adrian, ridden by Tierney, to win the $10,000 Apprentice Rider Timber by 3 1/2 lengths over Huyana, trained by Adair Bonsal Stifel.
