LETHBRIDGE, Alberta, CMC – Jamaican Dane Nelson won two of the added-money races at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club to make some of the headlines on the season-opening card here Sunday.
The championship leader at Century Mile in Edmonton, Nelson captured the CAN$12 750 Alberta-Bred Three-Year-Old Stakes with favorite Paddy’s Rocket before returning to win the $12 900 Alberta-Bred Fillies and Mares Stakes with another favorite Dance Shoes.
They were his only two rides on the six-race card.
The 39-year-old Nelson, who has already won 40 times in 178 outings at Century, opened his account in race one when he combined with roan gelding Paddys Rocket to win a six-furlong sprint.
Forced to duel from the break with 22-1 longshot Stay Outa My Way and 13-2 choice Yes No Maybe So, Nelson eventually carved out enough breathing space to get Paddy Rocket to the wire three-quarters of a length clear.
His second victory came over seven furlongs in race five when he piloted Dance Shoes to a crushing 11-½ length victory over the three-year-old and upward fillies.
Nelson got Dance Shoes away slowly as longshots Wicked Woman, Tegan’sbestwilko, and Princess Paisley tussled for the lead before bringing the five-year-old chestnut mare with a storming run to collar the field.
The Lethbridge RMTC season wraps up on October 9.
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