©Tod Marks

Celebrated fitness instructor Mark Beecher accomplishes his inaugural Hunt Cup triumph as a fitness instructor, while skilled jockey Conor Tierney guides the amazing horse he rode to victory in this historical occasion in 2023.

In a thrilling edition of the $100,000 Maryland Hunt Cup, renowned as American wood racing’s premier and most difficult occasion, Daniel Baker’s solid Road to Oz set its sights on Irv Naylor’s Withoutmoreado at the 22nd and last fence throughout the four-mile endurance test. With each stride, Road to Oz got momentum, lastly surpassing his challenger simple dives from the goal to protect a commanding triumph by three-quarters of a length.

Ridden by Conor Tierney for fitness instructor Mark Beecher—who formerly declared the Hunt Cup two times as a jockey aboard Professor Maxwell in 2013 and Raven’s Choice in 2015—this 10-year-old Maryland-reproduced child of Quality Road patiently browsed the nine-horse field. Meanwhile, Tuscany Racing’s Monbeg Stream, ridden by Jordan Canavan, rose into an undisputed lead, developing an impressive benefit of 15 lengths that lasted through 20 of the 22 fences in this requiring four-mile contest.

As Monbeg Stream preserved its supremacy heading towards fence 19, Withoutmoreado and Kinross Corp.’s Blackhall, piloted by Charlie Marshall and the 2024 Hunt Cup champ, were secured an intense fight for 2nd and 3rd. Road to Oz routed carefully behind in 4th, roughly 3 lengths off the leaders, prepared to make a relocation as the race advanced.

As the rivals approached fence 21, Withoutmoreado started to press forward on the within Monbeg Stream, while Road to Oz still had significant ground to cover. As they neared the last fence, Monbeg Stream’s lead had actually lessened, permitting Withoutmoreado to pull ahead by a number of lengths, with Road to Oz inching closer to the fading leader.

As they approached the last dive, Withoutmoreado was moving promptly. However, Road to Oz mirrored that speed and skyrocketed over the dive with amazing grace and power, rapidly comprising ground with each stride. With the goal illustration near, the gallant gray appeared poised to opt for 2nd location. Yet, within the last 15 strides, Road to Oz discovered an additional burst of energy and rose previous his unfaltering challenger.

This triumph significant Road to Oz’s very first win given that thriving at the 2022 Grand National, and it likewise represented his launching in the Hunt Cup. Armata Stables’ Goodoldtimes, trained by Beecher and ridden by Dan Nevin, ended up in 3rd location.

Exciting Developments at Foxfield Race Course

Emerging Star Smart Uncle Dominates in the $75,000 Van Clief Memorial

Gill Johnston’s excellent Smart Uncle clinched his 3rd successive NSA triumph and protected his very first stakes win with a figured out efficiency in the Daniel Van Clief Memorial Sport of Kings amateur stakes held at the Charlottesville, Virginia course.

As Irv Naylor’s Travesuras, assisted by Bernie Dalton, made a late charge to take the lead from the veteran front-runner, Evie’s Prince of Shannon Hill Farm, ridden by James O’Sullivan, which’s when Sharon Sheppard’s Chosen Judge, piloted by Jamie Bargary, signed up with the fray. Smart Uncle, under the assistance of Stephen Mulqueen for fitness instructor Jack Fisher, was the very first to draw level with Evie’s Prince, however quickly discovered himself behind both Travesuras and Chosen Judge as they approached the penultimate fence.

At that defining moment, Mulqueen skillfully navigated Smart Uncle to the outdoors, allowing him to make headway rapidly. He drew even with Travesuras as they headed towards the last dive, then sped up down the stretch to win by about 2 lengths. Runnymoore Racing’s Clifton Down, ridden by Harry Beswick, routed well behind in 3rd.

This triumph marked the 3rd successive win for the five-year-old Kentucky-reproduced child of Uncle Mo, who at first broke his maiden at Callaway Gardens in November and followed up with an allowance win at Aiken in March, starting the brand-new year with momentum.

Foxy Walk Fends Off Rivals in the $50,000 Good Night Shirt Stakes

In an excellent screen of speed and persistence, Michael A. Smith’s Foxy Walk broke promptly from the start, effectively warding off difficulties from Cool Jet and Proven Innocent to declare triumph in the 2nd running of the Good Night Shirt stakes, a prominent handicap for horses ranked at 130 or less.

This race was called in honor of the Hall of Fame jumper owned by Virginia horseman Sonny Via, who was trained by Jack Fisher and just recently died at the age of 94. Foxy Walk, an Irish-reproduced six-year-old, bolted out of eviction in a field of 6 and preserved an unyielding lead under the assistance of NSA beginner Luke Carberry. Cool Jet, from Riverdee Stable, with James O’Sullivan aboard, raced in 2nd, while Atlantic Friends Racing’s Theocrat, ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, occupied 3rd. Throughout the race, the running order stayed reasonably steady, with just about 5 lengths separating the whole field.

As the race advanced into its lasts, Bruton Street-United States’s Proven Innocent, the 2022 Novice Champion rebounding after an injury, rose into contention, causing an amazing face-off amongst the leading 3. In the stretch, it was Foxy Walk and Cool Jet fighting for the lead as Proven Innocent gave in. Ultimately, Foxy Walk thrived by roughly three-quarters of a length, while Proven Innocent handled to hang on for the program position.

This win represented the 2nd general and very first stakes triumph for jockey Carberry, and it marked the 4th win in 9 trips for Foxy Walk, trained by Leslie Young.

King of the Kids Triumphs in the Opening Race

In an amazing start to the day, James B. Steele’s King of the Kids rallied from behind with simply a number of fences staying, eventually edging past pacesetter Lightning Rod to protect triumph by roughly three-quarters of a length in the opener, a $30,000 optional declaring starter allowance.

With Harry Beswick in the saddle for fitness instructor Cyril Murphy, the six-year-old child of Lemon Drop Kid sat patiently at the back of the seven-horse field for much of the race. Meanwhile, Clarke Ohrstrom’s Lightning Rod, ridden by Sean McDermott, determined the rate from the start, when leading by as much as 8 lengths sometimes. Matthew T. Groff’s Brie’s Mission, who had actually developed herself as one of the leading three-year-olds of the previous season, made a vibrant relocation 2 fences from home however eventually might not preserve her momentum. Lightning Rod battled valiantly to protect 2nd location, while Nancy Reed and Jack Griswold’s Bright Eyed Eagle, ridden by Jamie Bargary, ended up in 3rd.

This triumph marked the 2nd successive win for King of the Kids, following a first unique weights contest triumph to begin the season at Aiken in March.

Vintage Year Achieves Maiden Win in Third NSA Attempt

In an awesome efficiency, Riverdee Stable’s Vintage Year, a flat race transform from the respected Phipps grass star Point of Entry, made his very first triumph with a late rally to win by a length, ridden by James O’Sullivan and trained by Jack Fisher.

This six-year-old Kentucky-reproduced horse broke well and revealed passion to run however quickly settled into 2nd location as Jacqueline Ohrstrom’s Baseline Beater, ridden by Mell Boucher, credited the front, producing a substantial space of approximately 13 lengths. Vintage Year, who made his NSA launching at Foxfield in October 2023 after a 13-race profession on the flat, was well-positioned in 2nd, while the remainder of the field dragged.

As they finished one lap, Baseline Beater preserved his lead, however was surpassed at the penultimate fence by Point Me By from Stonelea Stable, ridden by Harry Beswick. At that minute, Vintage Year, who had actually been client throughout the race, started his rally, causing an amazing two-horse race from the last dive to the wire. Dynamite Dan from Northwoods Stable, ridden by Evan Dwan, ended up far back in 3rd.

This triumph was especially substantial as it marked the very first win for Vintage Year, who had actually not raced once again for a year and a half after making his launching at Foxfield in 2023, where he ended up second at the Old Dominion Hounds satisfy previously this month.

Two Past Eight Secures Second Consecutive Win for Young and Carberry

Silverton Hill’s Two Past Eight showcased an excellent efficiency, leading wire to wire and eventually retreating from the field in the $35,000 handicap for horses ranked at 115 or less.

With Luke Carberry aboard for fitness instructor Leslie Young—who likewise worked together in the previous race to protect a win with Foxy Walk—the five-year-old British-reproduced horse rapidly developed a commanding lead, extending his margin to over 20 lengths at one point, and ran ahead of his closest rival, The Insider, to win by roughly 6 lengths.

This triumph marked the very first on the NSA circuit for Two Past Eight, who had actually formerly made 18 starts in England before getting here stateside last summer season.

Hudson River Farms and R and K Racing’s The Insider, ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, was contending in simply his 4th start given that recuperating from a spill at the Alston Cup in November 2022. Vivian Rall’s Idandothat, qualified and ridden by Sean McDermott, ended up in 3rd location.

Selassie Dominates in $20,000 Maiden Claimer

Hard Game’s Selassie, a current transform from flat racing to leap racing, showed amazing enhancement following his third-place surface in his NSA launching at Morven Park simply a week earlier, leading wire to wire to beat 7 competitors in a spectacular screen.

With Evan Dwan piloting for fitness instructor Kathy Neilson, the five-year-old Kentucky-reproduced child of Blame took charge soon after the start and never ever relinquished it, extending his modest result in 8 lengths in the stretch and eventually drawing clear by 18 lengths at the goal.

Rallying from 8th to end up 2nd was Zane Carruth’s Thatsmyboxer, ridden by James O’Sullivan, while William Wofford’s Made the Cut, piloted by Harry Beswick, ended up in 3rd.

Prior to signing up with the NSA, Selassie had actually made ten journeys to the post, primarily in the declaring ranks on the flat at locations like Laurel, Presque Isle, and Gulfstream Park.