With Hadden Frost in the saddle, Doc Cebu won the Willowdale Steeplechase for the second consecutive year in May. (Tod Marks photo)
The two most recent timber champions, Doc Cebu and Two’s Company, head a strong field for the fall’s first major timber race, Shawan Downs’ $25,000 Brown Advisory Legacy Chase, on Saturday.
The 18th edition of the Shawan Downs meet in Cockeysville, Md., will feature the 3 1/8-mile Legacy Chase over timber fences as part of a seven-race program offering full fields and $165,000 in total purse money. First post time is 1 p.m. Shawan will conduct live streaming of its races on its website, www.shawandowns.org
Both champions are trained by Jack Fisher. Owned by Maryland neighbors Charles Fenwick Jr., Michael Hankin, and Charles Noell, 2017 timber champion Doc Cebu is coming off a second straight win in the Willowdale Steeplechase on May 13. His regular jockey, Hadden Frost, will be in the saddle.
Two’s Company, who is owned by the Bruton Street-US partnership of Fenwick, Hankin, and Noell, is attempting to regain the form that carried him to the timber title in 2016. He finished third in his most recent start, the Iroquois Steeplechase’s Mason Houghland Memorial on May 12. Sean McDermott has the mount.
Trainer Willie Dowling entered last year’s Legacy Chase winner, Rodriguez, and Certain Swagger. Kiplin Hall’s Rodriguez will be making his first start of the year and will be ridden by Mark Beecher.
Jack Doyle, currently leading the National Steeplechase Association’s jockey standings by wins, will be aboard Jeremy Batoff’s Certain Swagger, who most recently finished fourth in a Willowdale timber allowance.
Last year’s champion timber owner, Irv Naylor, will be represented by Top Man Michael and Ride Away. Trained by Cyril Murphy, Top Man Michael won the Radnor Hunt Cup by four lengths on May 19. Darren Nagle, the reigning champion jockey, has a return call.
Eddie Keating will ride Ride Away, who is making his first start since finishing second in a 2017 Willowdale timber allowance for trainer Kathy Neilson.
Her sister, Sanna Neilson, will saddle Stuart Strawbridge’s Kings Apollo, winner of the Winterthur Bowl on May 6. Gerard Galligan will again ride.
Here is the field for the $25,000 Brown Advisory Legacy Chase in post-position order.
Rodriguez (Ire). 2007 dk. b. or br. g., High Chaparral (Ire)—Sofia Aurora, by Chief Honcho. Owner: Kiplin Hall. Trainer: William Dowling. Jockey: Mark Beecher. Breeder: Michael G. Daly (Ire). 2017 record: 5-1-0-2, $27,000. 2016 record: 3-1-1-0, $12,700. Won Shawan’s 2017 Brown Advisory Legacy Chase, then was fourth in Virginia Fall’s National Sporting Library and Museum Cup and third in International Gold Cup. Finished third in 2017 Winterthur Bowl after being pulled up in Grand National’s Western Run Plate. After second at 2016 Shawan Downs meet, won timber maiden at Virginia Fall before fifth at Steeplechase at Callaway.
Doc Cebu. 2010 b. g., Hard Spun—Berga, by Jade Hunter. Owners: Charles C. Fenwick Jr., Michael Hankin, and Charles Noell. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Hadden Frost. Breeder: Graceville Breeding (Ky.) 2018 record: 2-1-0-1, $24,000. 2017 record: 5-4-1-0, $96,600. 2016 record: 2-2-0-0, $21,000. Won Willowdale Steeplechase for a second straight year in 2018 after third in 2018 Middleburg Hunt Cup. Clinched 2017 timber championship with 11-length victory in International Gold Cup. Won 2017 Genesee Valley Hunt Cup by 11 1/4 lengths and Willowdale Steeplechase by nine lengths. Opened his timber career with a maiden victory at 2017 My Lady’s Manor and was second in Queen’s Cup timber allowance. Won his two starts over hurdles in 2016.
Kings Apollo (GB). 2009 b. g., King’s Theater (Ire)—Temple Dancer, by Magic Ring. Owner: Stewart Strawbridge. Trainer: Sanna Neilson. Jockey: Gerard Galligan. Breeders: M. Watt and Executors of Miss J. John (GB). 2018 record: 1-1-0-0, $24,000. 2017 record: 3-1-0-0, $9,750. Won 2018 Winterthur Bowl by 5 3/4 lengths. Won a 2017 Winterthur maiden timber race after fourth in division of John Rush Streett Memorial at My Lady’s Manor. Fell in Radnor Hunt Cup. Previous victory was over steeplechase fences at Taunton in England in December 2015.
Monstaleur. 2007 ch. g., Meadow Monster—Taleur, by Stalwars. Owner: Black and Blue Stable. Trainer-Jockey: Forrest Kelly. Breeders: Dr. James E. Bryant and Linda P. Davis (Va.). 2018 record: 2-0-0-2, $8,500. 2017 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2016 record: 2-1-0-0, $9,750. Finished third in 2018 Grand National and Willowdale Steeplechase. Pulled up in 2017 Willowdale Steeplechase, his only start that year. Closed ground for dead-heat win in 2016 Willowdale Steeplechase.
Canyon Road. 2009 ch. g., Service Stripe—Observe, by Patton. Owner: Gordonsdale Farm. Trainer: Christopher Kolb. Jockey: Kieran Norris. Breeder: Gordonsdale Farm (W.Va.) 2018 record: 1-0-0-0, $0. 2017 record: 4-0-1-0, $6,600. 2016 record: 5-2-0-1, $25,250. Pulled up in 2018 Radnor Hunt Cup on soft turf. Finished fifth in 2017 Radnor Hunt Cup before 10th in Shawan’s Legacy Chase. Opened 2017 season with second in Middleburg Hunt Cup, then was pulled up in Virginia Gold Cup.
Top Man Michael (Ire). 2009 b. g., Antonius Plus—Top Brex, by Top Ville. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Cyril Murphy. Jockey: Darren Nagle. Breeder: John Egan (Ire). 2018 record: 2-1-0-0, $19,200. 2017 record: 1-1-0-0, $15,000. 2016 record: 3-1-0-1, $19,000. Won 2018 Radnor Hunt Cup after fifth in Middleburg Hunt Cup. In only 2017 start, won Winterthur Bowl for second consecutive year. Won 2016 Winterthur Bowl in his first start over timber, then was fourth in Radnor Hunt Cup and third in Callaway timber allowance race.
Certain Swagger. 2009 b. g., Arch—Comedy, by Theatrical (Ire). Owner: Jeremy Batoff. Trainer: William Dowling. Jockey: Jack Doyle. Breeders: Claiborne Farm and Arlene Dilschneider. (Ky.) 2018 record: 3-0-0-1, $19,200. 2017 record: 2-0-0-0, $1,250. Finished distant fourth in 2018 Willowdale timber allowance after distant third in Winterthur amateur apprentice timber. Fell in 2017 New Jersey Hunt Cup and then was a distant fourth in Steeplechase at Callaway timber allowance. Finished ninth in 2016 My Lady’s Manor, then was third in Middleburg Spring’s Alfred M. Hunt steeplechase, second in Winterthur Bowl. Scored 45-length victory in Queen’s Cup timber allowance in 2015.
Going for Broke (Ire). 2010 b. g., Gold Well—Kokopelli Star, by Hernando (Fr). Owner: Armata Stables. Trainer: Stephanie Moore. Jockey: Eric Poretz. Breeder: George Masterson (Ire). 2018 record: 2-0-1-0, $6,100. No starts. Finished second in 2018 Fair Hill novice timber after fifth in Winterthur Bowl, his U.S. debut. Imported after busy 2017 season in which he scored two victories in English handicap ranks over steeplechase fences.
Two’s Company (Ire). 2009 b. g., Soviet Star—Gaye Lady, by Pistolet Bleu (Ire). Owner: Bruton Street-U.S. Trainer Jack Fisher. Jockey: Sean McDermott. Breeders: M. W. and Mrs. M. Doran (Ire). 2018 record: 2-0-0-1, $5,000. 2017 record: 2-0-0-0, $0. 2016 record: 6-4-2-0, $103,200. Timber champion 2016. Finished third in 2018 Mason Houghland Memorial after being pulled up in Middleburg Hunt Cup. Fell in late stages of 2017 Middleburg Hunt Cup, then was pulled up in Mason Houghland Memorial at Iroquois Steeplechase. Opened 2016 with victories in Middleburg Hunt Cup and Carolina Cup’s C. P. and Edith Wills DuBose Cup, then closed for second in Virginia Gold Cup. Won 2016 Legacy Chase at Shawan Downs and Virginia Fall’s National Sporting Library & Museum Cup before second in International Gold Cup.
Ride Away. 2011 b. g., Candy Ride (Arg)—East Hampton, by Meadowlake. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Katherine Neilson. Jockey: Eddie Keating. Breeder: Pin Oak Stud (Ky.) 2018 record: No starts. 2017 record: 3-1-1-0, $12,300. Easily won 2017 Winterthur amateur allowance timber allowance before second in similar race at Willowdale.