Zanclus makes quite a splash in first race of timber triple

My Lady’s Manor opens three-event steeplechase series

Zanclus is named for a species of fish, but there was nothing fishy about his frontrunning victory in Saturday’s 108th running of the $30,000 My Lady’s Manor. The 8-year-old gelding, owned by

showed no signs of rust after more than a year on the sidelines. He went to the lead at the start and never was challenged as he rolled to a 251⁄4-length victory in the first leg of the Maryland timber triple crown.

Straight to It, a 12-year-old veteran of the timber-racing races, finished second, 8 lengths ahead of Mystic Strike, the early trailer who closed well in the stretch for third. Drift Society, second in the My Lady’s Manor last year before a second in the Maryland Hunt Cup, tired late to finish fourth, 6 lengths farther back, in a field of six.

Zanclus was ridden by the National Steeplechase Association’s leading jockey by wins last year, and ran the 3 miles of the My Lady’s Manor in 5 minutes, 47 seconds on fast turf at the Monkton course. Nagle placed Zanclus approximately 4 lengths ahead of his five opponents in the early going and pulled away in the final quarter-mile.

Collette, a resident of Casanova, Va., bred Zanclus out of a stallion and mare that she also bred. Zanclus is named for a species of fish popularly known as the Moorish idol, a nod to the owner-breeder’s husband,

a marine zoologist. Her dark green silks bear the images of two jumping dolphins.

The My Lady’s Manor was his eighth career start, the last six over timber fences. In those starts for trainer Neil Morris, he has never finished worse that second.

He won an allowance hurdle at the International Gold Cup in The Plains, Va., by 25 lengths while setting all the pace in October 2016 and went to the sidelines with an injury after his next start two weeks later.

The $50,000 Grand National, the second leg of the Maryland timber triple, will be raced April 21, in Butler, and the series concludes with the $100,000 Maryland When: Saturday, gates open at noon; first race at 1:45 p.m. Where: 2838 Butler Road, Butler Tickets: Online ticket sales will close Sunday. Tickets also are available at select retail locations, including Dover Saddlery, Wine Merchant, John Brown General Store and Butchery, the Butler Store and the Filling Station. Based on availability, you can purchase them the day of the event. More information: Hunt Cup on April 28 in Glyndon. Laurel Park: No single bettor solved the 20-cent Rainbow 6 for the 30th consecutive live program Saturday at Laurel Park, pushing Maryland’s state-record jackpot carryover to $345,898.33 for today’s ninerace card at Laurel Park.

One horse, 18-1 long shot Conquistador Fuego, was live to take home a life-changing $392,819.64 payday heading into the 10th race finale, finishing third in a sevenfurlong maiden claimer for 3-year-olds and up won by 3-2 favorite Shoot the Gap ($5).

A total of $97,764 was bet into the popular multi-race wager Saturday, adding to a carryover of $314,617.45 from Friday’s program. Multiple tickets will all six winners each returned $5,213.46.

and Nakamura, a second-time starter by 2011 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Animal Kingdom, powered down the center of the stretch to reel in front-running Helicat and win Saturday’s featured fifth race.