HORSE RACING-Nelson starts title defense with a double

EDMONTON, Alberta, CMC – Last year’s champion jockey, Dane Nelson of Jamaica, strongly started defending the title on Saturday at the Century Mile racetrack in Canada.

The 40-year-old, a four-time Jamaica champion jockey, was one of three riders who logged a double on the eight-race card at the main racing facility in western Canada. This early success signals that it may be another hard slog to win the title this season, which ends on September 14.

Adding to the Caribbean success, emerging Barbadian jockey Kyle Carter was also triumphant on the program, contributing to the three wins by Caribbean reinsmen on the day.

Nelson got off the mark for the season when he won by 1-1/2 lengths aboard the 6-5 favorite, Bon Prix, in the CAN $17 500, claiming his fourth race over five furlongs on the dirt course.

Nelson’s winning strategy was evident as Bon Prix set the pace from off the rail, facing inside pressure early. Nelson skillfully guided the seven-year-old, bay gelding to shake free of rival Amusing Way, under Tyler Walker, to move clear by the five-sixteenths marker. The experienced horse held sway while being kept to the task to finish in 58.27 seconds – 2.74 ticks off the track record.

Nelson had to work a little hard to grab his second win when he won by a neck astride the 2-1 bet Kulsum in the CAN $35 000 maiden particular weight sixth race over five furlongs on the dirt course.

He put Kulsum to track from near the rail early and rode along at the seven-sixteenths marker before he shifted the three-year-old chestnut filly from four to five wide, turning for home. She kept on going late and surged to win in 1 minute, 00.63 seconds.

Carter closed out the day’s racing when he steered the 13-1 outsider Wedge Pond to a three-quarters-of-a-length win in the CAN $20 500 allowance optional, claiming the eighth and final race over five furlongs on the dirt course.

Wedge Pond set the pace off the rail and was kept to the task throughout the trip. The six-year-old chestnut gelding held on to clock 58.73 secs, 2.60 off the track record.