HORSE RACING-Nelson, Prescod steal headlines

EDMONTON, Canada, CMC – Championship leader Jamaican Dane Nelson and Barbadian N’Rico Prescod shared the spotlight on Friday’s 11-race card after both logged braces at Century Mile here.

The seasoned 39-year-old Nelson posted wins in race two with favorite Beautiful Messenger and in race seven with 24-1 outsider Smart Decision.

Prescod, a 24-year-old who only arrived in Canada last year, carved out victories with 7-2 choice Bob’s Buddy in race one over six furlongs and in the day’s final race with 4-1 choice Hard to Come Home.

Nelson tops the jockeys standings with 40 wins, four clear of second-placed Jose Asencio, and Prescod in fifth on 30 wins in an impressive campaign to date.

Nelson, who finished second in the championship last year, opened his account when he guided three-year-old filly Beautiful Mess to a crushing 10-length victory over the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares.

Going seven furlongs, 18-1 outsider Golden Fortynine produced the early speed before Miss McBride grabbed the lead at the three-eighths pole. Still, once Nelson challenged with Beautiful Mess, the result was but a mere formality.

Nelson’s second win came over six furlongs when he narrowly got the better of the three-year-old Alberta-bred maidens aboard Smart Decision.

Six-to-one chance Midnittraintogeorja showed early before Nelson sent his roan gelding to the front at the quarter pole, going on to beat fast-finishing Brynn’s Dream on the head bob.

Prescod’s opening win came in a front-running effort, combining with six-year-old gelding Bobs Buddy to repel the three-year-olds and upward by 2-¼ lengths in a six-furlong sprint.

He came close in race seven aboard Brynn’s Dream when he lost by a nose and again in race eight when he finished second aboard 3-1 bet Count on It, three-quarters of a length behind the winner Eyespywithmylittleeye.

However, Prescod broke his jinx in the final race, bringing the seven-year-old chestnut gelding Hard to Come Home off the pace to get up late and beat the three-year-olds upward by a nose over seven furlongs.