s injured ankle for last year's leading lady rider.

injured ankle for last year's leading lady rider.

Ahwaz, the series leader, gobbled up the lead and put 12 lengths between himself and his followers. On the stretch, however, Lyles Turn, Caroline Connors in the irons, challenged and much to the jockey’s surprise, found enough gusto to run ahead under the wire.

Lyles Turn served his jockey last winter as a horse to whip off of for the Warrenton Hunt and proved he had speed at that hunt’s point-topoint meet when he beat the famous Cinzano.

Rider Woods Winants had a rather nice day, winning three races. The eighth race, for maidens over hurdles, had so many entries that race organizers opted to split it three ways. Back to back, Mr. Winants carried three horses into the winner’s circle, two in first place.

Mr. Winants warmed up in the first division, guiding Hi Rocking Lady to a third place after losing to tough challengers Mail List and Life of Raleigh with whom he fought all the way to a close finish.

Rider Matthew Leslie, who won that contest with Mail List, said, “It was a lovely ride.” This was Mail List’s fifth time over fences, having captured thirds his last two times out.

In the second division Mr. Winants rode Britt Graham’s Tough Times Tony, hanging towards the back and rallying against Piper’s Dream for a close finish and victory. This was Tough Times Tony’s first start over hurdles and Mr. Winants tried to follow the owner’s directions.

“He’d never schooled with another horse over hurdles,” Mrs. Graham said. “I said “Woods, just try to follow behind’.” This is precisely what Mr. Winants started to do, though the horse had other ideas about his abilities.

The third division was an even more exciting one for the day’s star rider. He rode Anne’s Lover to a breathtaking finish, drawing away from So Eager in the last lengths of the finish.