Merriefield Farm’s two timber champions and two-time winner Twill Do will line up Saturday, April 26, for the 118th running of the $75,000 Maryland Hunt Cup in Glyndon. The historic race, the finale of Maryland’s timber triple crown, attracted a full field for its four miles over daunting fences. Post time for the afternoon’s only race is 4 p.m.
Trainer Bruce Fenwick will saddle Merriefield’s reigning timber champion, Foyle, and the 2011 champion, Bon Caddo. Foyle, who surged to the 2013 title with back-to-back victories in the International Gold Cup and Pennsylvania Hunt Cup, tuned for the Hunt Cup with a game second-place finish, beaten a nose, in the $30,000 Grand National at Butler on April 19. Fenwick imported British amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen to ride.
Bon Caddo would be making his first 2014 start after being scratched from the My Lady’s Manor, first contest of the timber triple, on April 12. He finished fifth in last year’s Hunt Cup after a third in the My Lady’s Manor. James Slater will ride.
Lucy Goelet’s Twill Do will be attempting to retire the Hunt Cup trophy with his third victory. He won in 2010 and 2012 before finishing fourth last year. James Stierhoff, who rode Twill Do to his previous Hunt Cup victories, will be in the saddle for trainer William Meister.
Jack Fisher, who shared last year’s timber trainer title with Meister, will send out Arcadia Stable’s Delta Park. A solid second to Foyle in the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup, Delta Park opened the 2014 season with a third-place finish in the Grand National, the middle jewel of Maryland’s timber triple crown.
Mark Beecher, who rode Professor Maxwell to victory in last year’s Hunt Cup, assumes the mount on Delta Park.
Virginia-based trainer Neil Morris will saddle Kinross Farm’s Sand Box Rules, who ruled the John D. Schapiro Memorial amateur apprentice timber race at My Lady’s Manor. Diana Gillam again will ride.
Who do you like in the Maryland Hunt Cup?
Imperial Way. 2005 ch. g., Point Given–Lasha, by Rahy. Owner: Merriefield Farm. Trainer: Elizabeth Voss Murray. Jockey: Bethany Baumgardner. 2014 record: 1-0-0-0, $800. 2013 record: 3-0-0-1, $2,000. 20-1 odds. Finished fifth in Grand National’s Benjamin H. Murray Memorial amateur allowance timber race on April 19. Maiden on flat and over fences came back after 2 1/2-year absence to finish third in a Foxfield Spring timber maiden and then was fourth in a Winterthur timber allowance. Pulled up at 18th fence of Pennsylvania Hunt Cup.
Fort Henry. 2001 b. g., Zaffaran–You Name It, by Le Moss. Owner: Welcome Here Farm. Trainer: Blythe Miller Davies. Jockey: Annie Yeager. 2014 record: 1-0-0-0, $300. 2013 record: 2-0-0-0, $1,500. 2012 record: 3-0-0-1, $4,500. 2011 record: 1-0-1-0, $2,700. 30-1 odds. Finished sixth in John D. Schapiro Memorial amateur apprentice timber race at My Lady’s Manor on April 12. Finished fourth in 2013 Grand National, then fell at the sixth fence of the Maryland Hunt Cup. Finished third in the 2012 Benjamin H. Murray Memorial at the Grand National before fifth in the Hunt Cup. Second in 2011 Benjamin H. Murray Memorial in only start. Won maiden at 2010 My Lady’s Manor meet.
Bug Eyed Willy. 2003 dk. b. or br. g., Lion Hearted—Bug Eyed Betty, by Pilot Ship. Owner: NoGo Stable. Trainer: William Meister. Jockey: Suzanne Stettinius. 2014 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2013 record: 4-0-0-0, $900. 2012 record: 3-0-1-0, $3,550. 2011 record: 3-0-0-0, $0. 30-1 odds. Finished 10th in Benjamin H. Murray Memorial amateur allowance timber race at Grand National on April 19. Lost rider at 16th fence of the 2013 Maryland Hunt Cup after placed fourth in the Benjamin H. Murray Memorial timber allowance at the Grand National meet. Finished respectable fourth in 2012 Pennsylvania Hunt Cup.
Foyle. 2005 dk. b. or br. g., Yarrow Brae–Londonderry, by Perfecting. Owner: Merriefield Farm. Trainer: Bruce Fenwick. Jockey: Sam Waley-Cohen. 2014 record: 1-0-1-0, $5,400. 2013 record: 5-3-0-0, $63,750. 2012 record: 3-1-1-1, $10,300. 2011 record: No starts. 5-1 odds. In first 2014 start, finished second by a nose in the Grand National on April 19. Won the 2013 timber championship with late-season victories in the International Gold Cup (as 11.60-1 longshot) and Pennsylvania Hunt Cup. Finished fourth in Virginia Gold Cup. Declared winner of Grand National’s Benjamin H. Murray Memorial after first two finishers went off course. Started his timber career in 2012 and won maiden victory at the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup.
Catch the Echo. 2004 dk. b. or br. g., Eastern Echo—Catch the Varmint, by Spicy Story. Owner: Gerry L. Brewster. Trainer: Blythe Miller Davies. Jockey: McLane Hendriks. 2014 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2013 record: 4-0-0-1, $1,900. 2012 record: 1-0-1-0, $1,800. 2011 record: 1-0-0-0, $375. 30-1 odds. Finished seventh in 2014 Benjamin H. Murray amateur allowance timber race at Grand National on April 19. Lost rider at the 13th fence of the 2013 Maryland Hunt Cup after being placed third in the Murray. In only 2012 start, finished second in John Rush Street Memorial maiden timber race at My Lady’s Manor.
Embarrassed. 2005 b. g., Flatter—Stormy Blast, by Kayrawan. Owner: Armata Stables. Trainer: Kathy Neilson. Jockey: Cormac Farrell. 2014 record: 1-0-0-0, $1,500. 2013 record: 6-1-1-1, $17,100. 2012 record: 7-1-0-2, $10,700. 2011 record: 10-1-1-2, $10,850. 10-1 odds. Finished fourth in the Grand National on April 19. Pulled up at 19th fence of the 2013 Pennsylvania Hunt Cup. Finished distant third in National Sporting Library Chronicle Cup after fourth in Shawan Downs’ Legacy Chase. Within a week, finished second in 2013 Winterthur Bowl and then won $15,000 Willowdale Steeplechase over timber.
Battle Op. 2000 gr. or ro. g., Ops Smile–Allepia, by Allen’s Prospect. Owner: Northwoods Stable. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Connor Hankin. 2014 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2013 record: 2-0-0-1, $3,000. 2012 record: 2-0-1-1, $15,000. 2011 record: 2-0-0-1, $2,500. 30-1 odds. Pulled up in the John D. Schapiro Memorial amateur apprentice timber race on April 12. Finished third in the 2013 Grand National and unseated his rider when impeded at the 19th fence of the Maryland Hunt Cup. Finished game second in 2012 Maryland Hunt Cup, beaten three-quarters of a length, and then was third in the Willowdale Steeplechase. Finished third in 2010 Maryland Hunt Cup.
Mach Ten. 2001 b. g., A.P Jet–Hello Beth’s Halo, by Halo. Owner: Upland Partners. Trainer: Todd McKenna. Jockey. A. Mills. 2014 record: No starts. 2013 record: No starts. 2012 record: 2-0-0-0, $750. 30-1 odds. Making first start since fall at Willowdale in 2012. Finished fourth in 2012 Benjamin H. Murray Memorial timber allowance race at Grand National. Coming back in a tough spot.
Sand Box Rules. 2004 dk. b. or br. g., Outofthebox—Lady Ensign, by Miner’s Mark. Owner: Kinross Farm. Trainer: Neil Morris. Jockey: Diana Gillam. 2014 record: 1-1-0-0, $6,000. 2013 record: 4-0-1-0, $16,250. 2012 record: 5-0-1-1, $9,450. 2011 record: No starts. 10-1 odds. Launched 2014 campaign with victory in the John D. Schapiro Memorial amateur apprentice timber race at My Lady’s Manor. Began 2013 fall season with fourth in the Genesee Valley Hunt Cup, then lost rider at 12th fence of the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup. Finished good second in the 2013 Maryland Hunt Cup after fourth in My Lady’s Manor. Closed out 2012 season with a second-place finish in the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup after being placed third in the Steeplethon at the International Gold Cup meet.
And the Eagle Flys. 2002 ch. g., Double Honor–Slick Mountain, by Peaks and Valleys. Owner: Mrs. William D. Class Jr. Trainer-Jockey: William Meister. 2014 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2013 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2012 record: 2-1-0-0, $18,000. 2011 record: 2-0-1-0, $14,250. 30-1 odds. Pulled up in the 2014 Grand National. Pulled up in the 2013 Grand National, his only start of the year. Won the 2012 Grand National but fell at the 17th fence of the Maryland Hunt Cup. Finished second in the 2011 Maryland Hunt Cup after a fourth in the Benjamin H. Murray Memorial at the Grand National meet.
Bon Caddo. 2001 b. g., Bon Point (GB)–Tactical Info, by Tactical Advantage. Owner: Merriefield Farm. Trainer: Bruce Fenwick. Jockey: James Slater. 2014 record: No starts. 2013 record: 2-0-0-1, $6,000. 2012 record: 2-0-0-2, $10,500. 2011 record: 5-2-1-0, $73,500. 10-1 odds. Timber champion of 2011 finished third in the 2013 My Lady’s Manor and fifth in the Maryland Hunt Cup. Finished third in the 2012 My Lady’s Manor and then was third in the Maryland Hunt Cup. Front-running winner of the My Lady’s Manor in first 2011 start, then won Virginia Gold Cup.
Twill Do. 2000 dk. b. or br. g., Yarrow Brae–A Little Wild, by Wild Again. Owner: Lucy A. Goelet. Trainer: William Meister. Jockey: James Stierhoff. 2014 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2013 record: 2-0-0-0, $3,750. 2012 record: 2-1-0-0, $46,500. 2011 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 8-1 odds. Pulled up in Grand National on April 19. Finished fourth in 2013 Maryland Hunt Cup after seventh in Grand National. Became a two-time Maryland Hunt Cup winner in 2012 after fourth-place finish in the Grand National. Winner of 2010 Maryland Hunt Cup lost rider in 2011 Grand National, his only start that year.
Brands Hatch. 2001 dk. b. or br. g., A.P. Indy–Watch Out, by Mr. Prospector. Owner: Gerry L. Brewster. Trainer: Blythe Miller Davies. Jockey: Adair Bonsal Stifel. 2014 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2013 record: 6-0-0-0, $2,075. 2012 record: 5-1-1-1, $9,950. 2011 record: 7-0-1-0, $5,100. 20-1 odds. Went off course and was disqualified in the Western Run Plate amateur apprentice timber race at Grand National on April 19. Lost rider in 2013 Pennsylvania Hunt Cup after finishing fifth in International Gold Cup’s Steeplethon. Finished sixth in Grand National and then lost rider at 14th fence of the Maryland Hunt Cup.
Delta Park. 2004 b. g., Johannesburg–Excedius, by Seattle Dancer. Owner: Arcadia Stable. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Mark Beecher. 2014 record: 1-0-0-1, $3,000. 2013 record: 3-0-2-0, $10,800. 2012 record: 2-1-0-1, $29,000. 2011 record: 6-2-0-2, $51,250. 6-1 odds. Finished third in the Grand National on April 19. Ended 2013 season with game second in Pennsylvania Hunt Cup after second in Genesee Valley Hunt Cup. In first start since winning the 2012 Radnor Hunt Cup, finished ninth in Shawan Downs’ Legacy Chase. Won the 2011 New Jersey Hunt Cup at Far Hills.
Guts For Garters (Ire). 2003 br. g., Presenting—Askynn, by Beau Sher. Owner: Stewart Strawbridge. Trainer: Sanna Neilson. Jockey: Jody Petty. 2014 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2013 record: 2-0-0-1, $7,500. 2012 record: 3-0-1-1, $10,700. 15-1 odds. Finished eighth in 2014 Benjamin H. Murray amateur allowance timber race at Grand National on April 19. Finished first in 2013 Murray Memorial but disqualified for going off course. Finished third in 2012 Virginia Gold Cup after close second in the Murray.