ETOBICOKE, Ontario, CMC – Experienced Barbadian jockey Jason Hoyte celebrated Independence Day in his homeland when he produced a couple of purposeful rides to land a double win on the eight-race card on Thursday at the Woodbine racetrack in Canada.
The 35-year-old is now tied with compatriot Juan Crawford for 18th in the jockeys’ standings with 20 wins for the season at the main racing facility in the country, where the season ends on December 17.
Hoyte kicked off the day’s racing with a one-length win aboard the 8-1 chance Under Budget in the CAN $36 300 first race over seven furlongs on the all-weather track.
He was unhurried on Under Budget down the backside, where he had his mount ahead of only one other runner, but he got the two-year-old, dark bay filly to improve up the fence and had a clear run on the rail.
Under Budget gained on the leaders before Hoyte shifted her to the outside, and she burst between foes at the sixteenth pole and edged away for the win in one minute, 27.27 seconds.
Hoyte followed up with a one 1/2-lengths win astride the 11-1 chance Northern Ruby in the CAN $36 300 first race over seven furlongs on the all-weather track.
He watched the front threesome from a position on the rail down the backstretch, and he patiently waited for his cue to get the nine-year-old chestnut mare running through the turn.
Proving there was life left in the “old gal” yet, Hoyte switched his mount to the three paths for the drive, and Northern Ruby wore down the leaders by the sixteenth pole for the lead and cleared away to finish in 1 min, 05.94 secs.
and then 