Italy’s Poehl Captures FEGENTRI Race at Laurel
Italy’s Poehl Captures FEGENTRI Race at Laurel
Maryland’s Taylor Leatherman Finishes Fourth for U.S.
LAUREL, MD – Evelyn Poehl of Italy hustled Michael Dubb’s Peppermint Stick from the gate and stayed in front to win Saturday’s FEGENTRI International Federation of Gentlemen and Lady Riders race at Laurel Park.
Trained by Rudy Rodriguez and favored at 2-1 in a field of seven for the $27,000 maiden claiming event, Peppermint Stick ($6.40) ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.93 on a firm Fort Marcy Turf Course after sailing through an opening quarter-mile in 22.19 seconds and a half in 45.10.
“It was a very easy horse to ride,” said the 32-year-old Poehl, whose victory was her 63rd from 364 amateur starts. “It feels very good.”
Graceful Light, ridden by Norway’s Nora Holm, closed late to be second over Miss Modela and rider Jennifer Miller of the United States. Taylor Leatherman of Union Bridge, Md. raced uncontested in second aboard the Anthony Aguirre-trained Skiing in Russia for much of the race before tiring in the final eighth of a mile and finished fourth.
It was just the second FEGENTRI ride for Leatherman, 17, who made her debut last month at Delaware Park. Ultra Championship Racing LLC’s 3-year-old filly Skiing in Russia was making her second career start following a fourth-place finish May 30 at Pimlico Race Course.
A member of the Maryland Jockey Club’s pony team, Leatherman is the oldest daughter of Faith Leatherman, owner and operator of Winding Creek Farm in Union Bridge, a full-service thoroughbred facility covering nearly 200 acres in Frederick County. Taylor Leatherman’s farm duties include exercising, training and breaking horses.
Completing the order of finish were Sassy Sara ridden by Elisa Fogar of Italy, Waves on the Sea with France’s Damien Artu, and Germany’s Susanne Rose aboard Village Reward. No More Excuses with Norway’s Dina Heggum was scratched.
Saturday’s race was a FEGENTRI World Cup of Nations team event, where riders earned points for their home country rather than in one of the organization’s three individual divisions. Italy picked up 11 standings points followed by Norway with six and the United States with five.
“Today shows the quality of the riders that come from overseas. They show their talents off really well, and they show their experience,” said Don Yovanovich, executive director of the Amateur Riders Club of America and member of the FEGENTRI board.
“Evelyn relaxed that horse even though she broke in front, and there’s a ton of quality and professionalism with all of them,” he added. “What I like about it is it gives our kids that don’t have a chance to have this kind of experience to ride with quality riders before they may choose to go on and take this up as a profession.”
Lara Le Geay of France won the last FEGENTRI race in Maryland in the individual ladies division June 9 at Pimlico.
FEGENTRI was founded in 1955 with the main purpose of promoting international races for amateur riders. At its inception, FEGENTRI was comprised of amateur riders from France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland but has seen its membership grow to include riders from 25 different countries around the world.
Riders who have participated in FEGENTRI include Maryland-based jockeys Trevor McCarthy and Forest Boyce.
