PAUL Townend, joining Kennedy, Mullins and Davy Russell as interlopers for the day, scored a stakes win when he guided front-running Lady Blanco to win the $50,000 Peapack Filly and Mare Stakes for Amy Taylor Rowe and trainer Leslie Young.

“I’m fortunate enough, I’ve ridden in Ireland, England, France, Australia, it was nice to add America,” Townend said. “I supposed they probably go steadier early here and gradually pick it up. Look, it’s a horse race at the end of the day, if you haven’t got the animal, you can’t make them go. It’s like any of our summer tracks, it’s tight, it’s quick, but it’s fair track, if you’re on the best horse, you’ll probably win around here, it’s a good, stiff finish.”

While plenty of the money went back to Ireland, some stayed here, albeit, in Irish jockeys’ pockets. Sean McDermott guided Whitman’s Poetry to win the $50,000 maiden hurdle for Dash Stable and leading trainer Jack Fisher. Jack Doyle partnered Lyonell to win the Appleton for Robert Kinsley and Elizabeth Voss. Mark Watts and Menacing Dennis, owned by Bonnie Rye Stable and trained by Julie Gomena, finished second but were moved up to first after interference in the $50,000 Gladstone 3-year-old hurdle stakes. Mark Beecher put on a jumping clinic to win the New Jersey Hunt Cup aboard Where’s The Beef for Welcome Here Farm and Ivan Dowling.