4-27-2025 9:49pm

ROAD TO OZ

Jeff Barto Editor

Road to Oz gets up in final strides to win 128th Maryland Hunt Cup.Trainer Mark Beecher earns his first Hunt Cup score as a conditioner, while jockey Conor Tierney edges the horse he rode to victory in the historic contest in 2023.

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In a thrilling renewal of $100,000 Maryland Hunt Cup, American timber racing's greatest and most demanding event, Daniel Baker's gutsy Road to Oz took aim at Irv Naylor's Withoutmoreado at the 22nd and final fence in the four-mile endurance contest, gaining ground with every stride, and collaring his foe just jumps from the wire to score going away by less than a length.

With Conor Tierney aboard for Mark Beecher, who captured the Hunt Cup as a jockey with Professor Maxwell (2013) and Raven's Choice (2015), the 10-year-old Maryland-bred son of Quality Road bided his time in the nine-horse field as Tuscany Racing's Monbeg Stream (Jordan Canavan) scooted off to an unchallenged lead of 15 or more lengths that held up for 20 of the 22 fences in the 4-mile marathon.

With Monbeg Stream still in control heading toward fence 19, Withoutmoreado and Kinross Corp.'s Blackhall (Charlie Marshall), winner of the 2024 Hunt Cup, raced side by side in second and third, with Road to Oz about three lengths behind them in fourth.

Withoutmoreado began advancing strongly to Monbeg Stream's inside heading toward fence 21 with Road to Oz still having a lot of real estate to make up. As the trio approached the final fence, Monbeg Stream's lead had evaporated as Withoutmoreado edged ahead by a couple of lengths and Road to Oz drawing even with the fading longtime leader.

Heading over that last jump, Withoutmoreado was traveling briskly. But Road to Oz was moving just as quickly and soared majestically over the post and rail like a rocket and began devouring more ground with each stride. With the wire fast approaching, the gallant gray continued to gain in small increments, appearing for a moment as if he might have to settle for second.

However, with about 15 strides to go, Road to Oz had a bit more momentum and pulled past his unrelenting rival to win by about a half length.The victory was Road to Oz's first since the 2022 Grand National. It was also his start in the Hunt Cup. Armata Stables' Goodoldtimes (Dan Nevin), also trained by Beecher, was third.You can watch a replay of the race here: https://www.facebook.com/nationalsteeplechaseassociation/videos/1697944497476816/

In a thrilling finish, Maryland-bred Road to Oz, ridden by Conor Tierney, won the 128th running of the Maryland Hunt Cup today (April 26) in Glyndon for owner Daniel R. Baker and trainer Mark Beecher. The 2015 grey gelding was bred by R. Larry Johnson and got his start on the flat track right here in Maryland at Laurel Park. By Quality Road and out of the Mizzen Mast mare, Miz Magician, Road to Oz switched to jump racing in 2020 finishing second at the Warrenton Hunt Point to Point in the Maiden Hurdle his first time over fences. The following year, he won the Maiden Timber at the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup.

This year, Road to Oz finished third in the Open Timber at the Green Spring Valley Point to Point and third in the Apprentice Rider Timber at My Lady’s Manor leading up to his first run at the Maryland Hunt Cup.

Tuscany Racing’s Monbeg Stream took to the lead at the start of today’s Maryland Hunt Cup and very quickly pulled ahead. Through most of the race, he was at least 10 lengths in front of the rest of the field. The 2023 Maryland Hunt Cup winner Withoutmoreado, owned by Irvin S. Naylor, was in second with Road to Oz moving into third by the fifth fence. The order of horses behind Monbeg Stream changed a bit at the halfway point with Road to Oz dropping to fourth and Kinross Farm’s Blackhall moving into second at the 15th fence. Then, by the 3-mile mark, it was Monbeg Stream still way out in front with Blackhall and Withoutmoreado running side by side in second.

The field chased Monbeg Stream down closing the gap as they neared the second to last jump where Withoutmoreado took the lead on landing. Road to Oz then also passed Monbeg Stream on his way to the last jump with Withoutmoreado keeping the lead over the last and down the stretch. However, Road to Oz kept on surging forward and won at the wire by 3/4 of a length.