Trainer Dwight Chen reaches 300th winner milestone with Chace The Great
The 2018 Burger King-sponsored Super Day of racing (Saturday, November 10, 2018) was historically special for trainer Dwight Chen. Not only did Chen saddle Chace The Great to win back-to-back Caribbean Sprint Championships but he also achieved his 300th career win in the process.
Chen started the day on 299 winners and had two runners on the programme, Chace The Great and Outrageous Taj, hoping that one of his horses could pull it off for him.
He didn’t have to wait long as Chace The Great, with Dane Nelson aboard, achieved the milestone for Chen. Chace The Great won by two-and-three-quarter lengths ahead of Mr Universe (Omar Walker) and Peking Cruz (Dane Dawkins). The final time for the six-furlong (1,200m) dash was 1:11.0.
“It is a very good feeling winning 300 races in my career. Horse racing has been the major part of my latter years — I would say for the last 15 years or so — and I must say it has been an enjoyable journey and I am looking forward to more.
“I am kind of slowing down a bit now. I mean, a small barn and better horses, but it has been a good journey for me and I have no regrets,” Chen with satisfaction on his face said.
Commenting on the performance by Chace The Great in the Sprint, Chen hailed Nelson for a job well done and revealed that the next stop for his charge is the Diamond Mile on December 1.
“Very good performance by Chace The Great. The time of 1:11.0 was very good and he well ridden by Dane [Nelson]. The change of rider was a simple decision as Anthony Thomas, who has been the regular rider, is a lightweight jockey, so one usually goes for a heavier jockey in situations like this.
“ Chace The Great is a nice horse and his next race will definitely be in the Diamond Mile coming up in a few weeks,” said Chen.
Mr Universe was the first to show on the lead when the starter let them go, with Peking Cruz and Chace The Great chasing the leader by staying close by.
Chace The Great, who went four-wide coming off the bend, was up with the leader challenging for top honours, then Nelson dug deep inside the final furlong (200m), and the chestnut gelding collared Mr Universeand went on to score his second win for the season.
