Last Saturday, April 6, two-time Maryland Hunt Cup winner Senior Senator started out his 2019 Maryland Steeplechase Association spring season with a win in the Edward S. Voss Memorial Open Timber at the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Point-to-Point. The 2010 gelding, owned by Irvin L. Crawford, II and trained by Joseph G. Davies, won the Open Timber at Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds
Point to Point in March as well. He was ridden by Eric Poretz in both races.

After just two races in the Governor’s Cup Series, Senior Senator is tied with Upland Partners’ Mystic Strike in the Horse of the Year standings. Mystic Strike is currently entered in this weekend’s My Lady’s Manor.

Held at Atlanta Hall Farm in Monkton, this year’s race meet featured the addition of pony races. Thomas Houghton won the Small Pony Flat race riding Elizabeth McCue’s Lickity Split for trainer Bernie Houghton. Teddy Davies won the Medium Pony Flat race aboard Rosemel’s Tickle Me Pink, owned by EHM Stables and trained by Betty McCue. Unfortunately in the Large Pony Flat race, both horses went off course rounding the turn towards the finish so there were no winners.

Later in the day, Austin Belt won the Medium Ponies division of the Jr. Field Masters Chase on Domino Effect while Colin Smith won the Large Ponies division riding Balls to the Walls. Belt rides with Suzanne Stettinius and Domino Effect is owned by Catie Keil. Mimi Schmitz in the trainer and owner of Smith’s Balls to the Walls. Parker Hendriks rode Lawn Ranger to win the JFMC TB Horses division for trainer/owner Sana P. Neilson.

Back in the timber action, the Eric Poretz/Joe Davies team won again, this time with Armata Stables’ Some Response. The 2012 Irish gelding took to the lead early and won by an incredible 20 lengths in the George C. Clement Memorial Novice Timber.

Eric Poretz and Joe Davies won a third time in the final timber race of the day with Vintage Vinnie. Also owned by Armata Stables, the 2009 Irish gelding won the Leith Symington Griswold Amateur Apprentice Timber.

Paul O’Neil was in the irons aboard Ann Jackson’s Raven’s Choice to win the Ann L. McIntosh Memorial Heavyweight Timber. Trained by Todd J. Wyatt, Raven’s Choice won by three lengths.

Paul O’Neil and Todd Wyatt then went on to sweep the flat races with Cotton Town and Flash Jackson. Cotton Town, owned by Robert J. Masiello, won the Alfred J. Smithwick Memorial Flat while Ann Jackson’s Flash Jackson won the Sara Bosley Secor Memorial Amateur Flat.

Next up on the MSA spring racing calendar is My Lady’s Manor this Saturday, April 13.

For a current list of Governor’s Cup Series standings, click here.