The Maryland-based combination of owner Bruton Street-US and champion trainer Jack Fisher dominated the $30,000 My Lady’s Manor on Saturday when Lemony Bay surged to a 1-length victory over his stablemate Drift Society.
Michael A. Smith’s Le Chevalier took the third spot, 41/2 lengths behind Drift Society and 73/4 lengths clear of pacesetter Grand Manan. Foyle, never close to the action, finished fifth and last.
As expected, Grand Manan went to the front immediately in the 3-mile My Lady’s Manor, the first leg of the Maryland timber triple crown. Ridden by Darren Nagle, the speedy timber stakes winner held a 5-length lead early, but he began to falter as Lemony Bay and Drift Society made their moves coming to the last fences.
Lemony Bay, ridden by Jeff Murphy, proved fastest to the line and prevailed in the drive over Drift Society, ridden by British jockey Hadden Forest.
Lemony Bay completed the 3-mile distance in 5 minutes, 51.80 seconds on firm turf.
Bruton Street-US is the racing operation of Michael D. Hankin, chief executive of Baltimore-based Brown Advisory and a Butler resident. His partners in Bruton Street-US are Charles Noell and Charles Fenwick Jr. Fisher, the National Steeplechase Association’s champion trainer for the past five years, is based in Monkton near the race course.
Lemony Bay, an import from England, had finished second in a My Lady’s Manor maiden timber race last year in his U.S. debut and then won a maiden race and two timber allowance races as Fisher brought him along methodically to build his confidence over timber fences.
The Maryland timber triple crown will continue Saturday with the Grand National in Butler and the $100,000 Maryland Hunt Cup on April 29 in Glyndon.
