EDMONTON, Alberta, CMC – Multiple-times Barbados champion jockey Rasheed Hughes enjoyed a fabulous day in the saddle when he rode three winners on Friday’s nine-race card at Century Mile.
The 26-year-old, who only a week ago won the Western Handicap with Classy City, maintained that form by starring in race three with favorite Goldie Socks, in race six with 3-1 choice Night Flyer and in race eight with another favorite After a Few.
With success, Hughes moved his tally for the season to eight, five adrift of second-placed Jamaican Dane Nelson, with Jose Asencio out front with 16.
Nelson, the reigning Century Mile champion, captured race two over seven furlongs with favorite Kiss Me Hello, beating the three-year-olds and upward maidens by 3-¼ lengths.
Another Barbadian jockey, Rashaun Griffith, also tasted success on the day’s card when he combined Saxon Saga with a 5-1 bet to edge the three-year-olds upward by a head going a mile.
Hughes took center stage, however. He opened his account in his first ride of the afternoon when he paired with four-year-old bay filly Goldie Socks to get the better of the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by three lengths.
Going seven furlongs, 7-1 choice Burning Up – ridden by veteran Barbadian Desmond Bryan – sprinted clear to lead through the half-mile in 48.18 seconds before Hughes eased Goldie Socks to the lead at the top of the stretch and inched away.
Hughes’ second win came in another seven-furlong trip for the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares when he guided four-year-old chestnut filly Night Flyer to victory by half-length.
He sat Night Flyer off the pace set by 28-1 longshot Eyespymylittleeye before bidding at the top of the stretch, dueling with the pacesetter and getting clear.
Hughes wrapped up his success in yet another seven-furlong trip, this time steering the five-year-old bay mare After a Few to a three-length score over the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares.
Hughes tracked the early leaders from fourth as 12-1 bet Stevie Wonder Girl and then 16-1 chance Quick Dial produced the fractions through the half-mile.
He swung the mare to the outside heading into the final turn, snatched the lead at the top of the stretch, and stormed to the finish using a hands-ride.
and then 