American amateur steeplechase jockeys Bethany Baumgardner and Keri Brion notched second-place finishes in all four Fegentri flat races for female riders in mid-June at Mid-Atlantic racetracks. Baumgardner, representing the Amateur Riders Club of America, had three of those place finishes.
In the kickoff race for the international contingent of female jockeys, Baumgardner was beaten three-quarters of a length aboard Exclusive Lake in the Penn National Race Course claiming race on June 9. The winner, Mist On the Moskova, was ridden by Nora Holm of Norway.
Also representing ARCA in that race were Tara Hynes, third aboard Raise the Mast; Layla Griffin, fourth on Abruzzi’s Star; Teresa Croce, fifth on Malibu Preacher; and Brion, 10th on Codrington Castle.
The racing moved to Parx Racing outside Philadelphia on June 10, and Brion picked up her second-place finish on Forgiving. Holm notched a double aboard Voices Only, who won by a length after setting all the pace in the $30,000 maiden claimer. Taylor rode 8-to-5 favorite Bete Noir to a sixth-place finish, and Baumgardner was eighth on Dilly Dedalus.
Next on the itinerary was Laurel Park, where Photo Gallery had her picture taken on June 11 with Melissa Boisgontier, representing France, after their half-length victory over Beyond Forever, ridden by Baumgardner. Taylor was fourth in the maiden claimer aboard Theda’s Soul, and Griffin was eighth on Dance Valentina.
Completing the circuit on June 12 was a $20,000 Delaware Park claimer won by On the List and Belgian amateur Sara Vermeersch. For the third time, Baumgardner led inside the furlong pole and was overtaken for the win. Her Delaware mount, Mavourneen, was beaten a head on the money. Hynes finished third on Likeagirl, and Griffin was sixth on Cuban Argument.
Baumgardner traveled to France the following weekend and finished 10th on Legapi in the Prix Reine Marie-Amelie for Fegentri amateur female jockeys on June 17 at Chantilly.
Eric Poretz also traveled overseas, racing to a fifth-place finish aboard London Mayor in a Fegentri race for men at Stromsholm, Sweden, on June 17.