WINNIPEG, Manitoba, CMC – Caribbean jockeys, led by defending champion Antonio Whitehall of Barbados and compatriot apprentice Rachaad Knights, again dominated the race card on Monday at the Assiniboia Downs racetrack in Canada.
Whitehall – now second, on 11, in the jockeys’ standings – and Knights – tied in fifth, on eight, with Ronald Ali of T&T – grabbed a pair of wins on the seven-race card to fortify their places in the top five this season – which opened on May 20 and ends on September 17 – at the central Canadian racing facility.
Renaldo Cumberbatch, their fellow Barbadian, championship leader Prayven Badrie of Trinidad & Tobago, and Javaniel Patterson of Jamaica also won on the race card to account for another Caribbean sweep.
Whitehall collected his first win of the day aboard the 5-1 chance Mechanic Susie that won by 4-1/2 lengths in the CAN $16 500 allowance optional, claiming the fifth race over six furlongs on the dirt course, featuring fillies and mares three years old and upward that have never won a race other than a maiden, claiming, starter or restricted; or that have never won three races.
Mechanic Susie forced the pace from the inside and dueled on the inside around the turn before Whitehall got the three-year-old, dark bay filly to extend in the final straight and draw away from her rivals to clock one minute, 13.05 seconds.
Whitehall followed up with a two-length win on the 7-5 favorite Lipstick Lady in the CAN $10 000 claiming the sixth race over six furlongs on the dirt for fillies and mares three years old and upward that have not won a race since December 17 last year.
Lipstick Lady dueled on the outside before Whitehall got the four-year-old chestnut mare to extend from the eighth pole and draw away from her rivals to finish in 1 min, 13.65 secs.
Knights opened his account astride the 2-5 favorite Lollipop Kid that won by 1-1/4 lengths in the CAN $13 700, claiming the second race over six furlongs on the dirt for three years old and upward that have not won three races.
Lollipop Kid advanced on the inside to force the issue down the backstretch and shook pace rival Adjournment under Whitehall, heading into the turn before the four-year-old bay gelding dueled with a second rival, Johnny Paycheck, under 2022 Jamaica champion jockey Dane Dawkins, around the turn and extended in the final straight to run away for a time of 1:12.76.
Knights returned to clinch another win by 1-1/2 lengths on the odds-on favorite Sebadas in the CAN $ 20,000 maiden particular weight final race over 1 100 meters on the dirt for maidens, fillies, and mares three years old and upward.
Sebadas stumbled at the break, but Knights got his mount to advance inside to force the pace before the three-year-old bay filly took a short lead heading into the turn, extended in the middle, and held well to finish in 1:07.92.
Sixth-placed Cumberbatch landed his seventh win of the season when he drove the raging hot favorite Victory Line to a commanding 7-1/4 lengths score in a time of 1:13.45 in the CAN $10 200, claiming his first race over six furlongs on the dirt for three years old and upward that have not won three races.
Badrie logged his championship-leading 15th win when he steered the 6-5 favorite JJ’s American Diva to a one-length victory in 1:28.20 in the CAN $16 500 allowance optional, claiming third race over seven furlongs on the dirt for fillies and mares three years old and upward that have never won a race other than a maiden, claiming, starter or restricted; or have never won three races.
And Patterson grabbed his second win of the season when he guided the 9-1 outsider Gold Special to a victory by a nose in 1:12.61 in the CAN $14 800, claiming the fourth race over six furlongs on the dirt for three years old and upward.
and then 