CLAIMING apprentice Sadiki Blake stole the spotlight by riding a three-timer on the nine-race midweek programme at Caymanas Park yesterday.

It was Blake’s first triple since he started his career on September 8, 2012. He now joins O’Brien White and Shamaree Muir as the only apprentices in this batch to ride three winners on one race day.

By virtue of his three-timer, Blake has now ridden nine winners for the season and 17 overall in almost three years.

Blake opened the programme aboard the Marlon Anderson-conditioned Country Train, who romped home by five lengths over 1,000 metres.

He then guided Miss Dorothy to victory by four lengths for trainer Ray Phillips in the third race over 1,500 metres.

The triple was completed in the sixth race when he rode a really good race to win aboard Black Boy by a length and a quarter over 1,400 metres for trainer Roy Mathews.

“It is a marvelous feeling to win three races. It was coming for some time now. I can’t complain. I must thank the trainers and everyone who has been there to support me,” Blake told the Jamaica Observer.

Also on the day, trainee apprentice Linton Steadman rode a well-timed race aboard Seal The Deal to win the second Jamaica Racing Commission’s (JRC) Training School Race.

Trained by Ryan Darby, Seal The Deal came with a telling run in the last furlong to beat All For The Glory (Odeen Edwards up) by three-quarter length in 1:30:4 minutes over 1,400 metres.

“It feels super great to win one of these races. My main aim is to make it through the Jockeys’ school and become an accomplished jockey,” Steadman said.

The first JRC Training School Race took place on May 16 with Melissa Ward winning aboard Sporting Clay.

Paul Francis was simply at his best when steering Scoop Jordyne to an easy five-and-a-half lengths victory in the top-rated race, an Overnight Allowance event over 1,000 metres. The winning time was a fast 57:4 seconds. Racing continues on Saturday.