Irv Naylor’s Ebanour, last in the early stages of the My Lady’s Manor, made a big move to the lead heading into the final fence and drew clear to a resounding victory Saturday in the first jewel of the Maryland timber triple crown.
Ridden by Gus Dahl, Irish-bred Ebanour extended his advantage through the stretch of the Monkton course and reached the finish line 6 1/2 lengths clear of Rose Hill’s Organisateur. Jody Petty, Organisateur’s jockey, claimed foul against Ebanour for interference at the final fence, but the My Lady’s Manor stewards disallowed the claim.
Kinross Farm’s Old Timer, who set the early pace in the three-mile race over timber fences, finished third under Diana Gillam. Ebanor ran the three-mile distance in 6:11.80 on firm turf under sunny conditions and temperatures in the upper 60s.
Michael Wharton’s Grinding Speed, the defending timber champion and My Lady’s Manor winner, was well-placed early but lacked a late response and finished sixth.
Trained by Cyril Murphy at Naylor’s farm in nearby Butler, Ebanour scored his second straight victory after winning the New Jersey Hunt Cup at the Far Hills Races last October.