HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida, CMC – Little-known Barbadian apprentice jockey Elijah Greenidge and ace compatriot trainer Saffie Joseph Jr combined to deliver three wins on Saturday’s race card at the Gulfstream Park racetrack in the United States.
Greenidge, who only started riding on the North American circuit in January this year and books his rides, grabbed a double win on the 11-race program. Meanwhile, Joseph continued to lead the pack in the trainers’ championship for the spring-summer season, which opened on April 4 and closes on September 29, showcasing their exceptional teamwork.
Greenidge found success aboard the 31-1 long-shot Plankton that won by 4-1/2 lengths in the U.S. $27 000 maiden, claiming second race over one mile on the turf course.
With strategic precision, Greenidge guided Plankton to set a clear pace along the rail throughout the trip. The four-year-old, chestnut filly, under his expert handling, held well under a clear drive to return a time of one minute, 35.05 seconds.
Greenidge grabbed his fourth win out of 50 starts for the year astride the 7-1 chance Nothing But Pumps that won by 2-1/2 lengths in the U.S. $25 000, claiming 10th and penultimate race on the program over 1 670 meters on the all-weather course.
He settled Nothing But Pumps off the pace while racing three wide and cruised up on the leaders around the far turn before he put the four-year-old bay filly to front nearing the five-sixteenths pole, and she drew off under a drive to finish in 1 min, 42.18 secs.
In between, Joseph notched his 19th win after Swirvin, under leading jockey Edgard Zayas, won by a head in the U.S. $62 000 allowance optional, claiming the eighth race over six furlongs on the dirt course.
Zayas got Swirvin to set a pressured pace along the rail throughout the trip, and the four-year-old bay colt edged ahead in the upper stretch and lasted to clock 1:10.33 – only 2.21 off the track record.
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