HORSE RACING-Husbands dazzles in $175 000 Nassau

TORONTO, Canada, CMC – Outstanding Barbadian jockey Patrick Husbands produced another superb ride to win the CAN$175 000 Nassau Stakes aboard 7-2 choice Fev Rover at Saturday’s celebrated Woodbine.

On a soft track following rain earlier, the 50-year-old raced the five-year-old bay mare at the back of the pack before wheeling the Mark Casse-trained entrant through a seam at the top of the stretch and storming to the finish 4-¼ lengths clear in a time of one minute. 40.03 seconds.

Favorite Moira finished second, while a 7-1 chance Millie Girl came in third.

“I was on the best side of the track on the wide outside, and those guys keep on rolling, rolling, rolling,” Husbands said about the early stages of the mile trip.

“My horse was enjoying it. I was on the wide outside, so I said I would just cut the corners, cut the corners, and then open her up. I [couldn’t] go around because they were going too fast down the backside, so it worked out perfectly.”

In race 10 for the four-year-old and upward fillies and mares, the Barbadian Saffie Joseph-trained 18-1 shot Sister Lou Ann paired with 8-1 bet Scottish Star to pull the field through fractions of 24.34 seconds for the quarter and 48.50 for the half.

Thirteen-to-one chance Sweet Enough and Moira stalked just off the flank of the dueling pacesetters, with Fev Rover languishing two lengths behind the field.

Scottish Star picked up the running when the race swung for home, Husbands positioning Fev Rover on the inside just off the rails but finding himself needing more racing room.

However, a hole opened between Devil’s Bit and Sweet Enough, and Husbands capitalized, the mare responding well to brush aside her challengers and win handsomely.

“Riding good horses makes you look good, and you can do what you want. The race [unfolded] for me, and I’m happy for Mark and the owner,” Husbands said.

The victory was one of two on the 11-race card for the 50-year-old Husbands, following his capture of race four over a mile with favorite Queen Judith, beating the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by half-length.