HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida, CMC – The seasoned and skilled rider, Patrick Husbands, showcased his mastery at Gulfstream Park on Sunday. Guiding Mark Casse’s 6-1 chance Forever Dixie, he led the filly to a triumphant victory in the US$62 500 race eight.
Up against the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares over a mile and sixteenth, the 50-year-old Barbadian sat the John Oxley-owned four-year-old bay filly off the pace before rallying late to win by half-length.
The victory was only the second for Husbands in 12 appearances at the South Florida oval this season as he prepares for the upcoming campaign at Woodbine in Canada, where he is a seven-time champion.
The much-awaited Woodbine campaign is set to kick off on Saturday, promising an exhilarating lineup of 38 graded stakes and a staggering CAN$16 million in prizes.
In his only outing on the 10-race card, Husbands settled Forever Dixie down in seventh on the outside in a closely bunched field. 5-1 bet Thirty Thou Kelvin led by a length from 14-1 choice Sugar Fix, with Bramble Bay, Riding Pretty, Perhaps Tonight, and Jan’s Girl all tracking.
Nothing changed on the backstretch as Thirty Thou Kelvin continued to lead through 24.52-second, 48.10-second, and 1:10.67-second splits.
The pace quickened off the final turn as Sugar Fix challenged, but Thirty Thou Kelvin still held sway with an eighth-mile to run, Forever Dixie seemingly out of it.
However, Forever Dixie and 14-1 chance Starship Agenda produced late bursts to get past the pacesetter before Husbands got his filly’s head in front at the wire.
and then 