TRAINER Keri Brion, who was based in Wexford for most of last season, made an auspicious Saratoga debut this week when she saddled Baltimore Bucko and French Light to finish first and second in the Grade 1 $150,000 A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase.

Baltimore Bucko ran four times in Ireland last season. He was officially trained by Jonathan Sheppard when finishing third at Limerick’s Christmas meeting. The licence then transferred to Brion and the horse was unlucky not to win at Down Royal in March when he fell at the final hurdle.