Devon, Pennsylvania – September 11, 2026 – Speed and precision stole the spotlight Friday evening at the 2026 Devon Fall Classic as Taylor Madden and Manhattan VDL raced to victory in the $10,000 Speed Stake 1.40m, sponsored by Land Rover Main Line.
Madden stopped the clock in a fault-free 57.788 seconds aboard Manhattan VDL to take top honors under the lights in the historic Dixon Oval. Cian McDermott and Glynwood Stables’ Illethe B S finished close behind in second with a fault-free time of 59.352 seconds, while Madden returned to the top three aboard GCS Angelina, finishing third in 60.585 seconds with no faults.
Madden first entered the Dixon Oval aboard GCS Angelina, setting an early time to beat before ultimately being overtaken. With another opportunity aboard Manhattan VDL, Madden knew exactly where she could make up valuable seconds.
“My first horse is only 7, and she spends a lot of time in the air naturally, so it didn’t feel super fast to me,” Madden said. “I knew with him I could be faster, and when someone did beat me, I knew I had to be faster. I knew what I didn’t do as fast on my first course and that I could make it up on the next one.”
For her winning trip aboard Manhattan VDL, Madden found the additional speed through more efficient turns and a quicker pace across the expansive Dixon Oval.
“Just tighter turns and being a little quicker on the ends of the ring,” Madden explained. “I stuck to the same number of strides and the same inside turns.”
Friday evening’s victory was made even more memorable by Madden’s history at Devon. Having previously competed at the Devon Horse Show as a junior equitation rider, the Speed Stake marked her first time back in the Dixon Oval since 2019.
“I’ve always loved Devon since I was a kid, so I’m excited to be back here,” Madden said.
Madden will return to the Dixon Oval Saturday with both Manhattan VDL and GCS Angelina as competition culminates with the feature class of the weekend, the $25,000 Devon Fall Classic, sponsored by Main Line Health Bryn Mawr Hospital.
