Jamaican jockeys dominate championship at Lethbridge

Jamaican jockeys Trevor Simpson, Larris Allen, Neville Stephenson and Orlando Foster dominated the monthand- a-half (September 1 to October 14) jockeys’ championship at Lethbridge racetrack in Canada.

Simpson won the title for the second-consecutive season with 17 winners from 52 mounts, accumulating earnings of CAN$52,425. In the May 4 to June 30 championship Simpson defeated Allen by one winner, winning 10 races to Allen’s nine. Allen again finished second behind Simpson with 13 winners from 64 rides and earnings of CAN$43,312.

Stephenson was third with 12 winners from 52 mounts and earnings of CAN$35,003, with Foster finishing in fifth place with nine winners from 46 mounts and earnings of CAN$32,116.

Other Jamaicans Ryan Nelson finished eighth with two winners from 40 mounts, and Oral Bennett won two races from 27 mounts to finish in 12th position.

Cairo a winner at last

Owned by Courtney Thorpe and trained by Lincoln Lungs, Cairo (Freedom for Jante – Spy Girl) after 13 starts was able to get his head in front in a maiden condition race for native-bred three-year-olds run over five furlongs (1,000m) straight.

With Raddesh Roman in the saddle, Cairo, who finished three times in second place, easily defeated rivals by 4 ¼ lengths in a good time of 1:00.2, with splits of 23.0 x 46.1.

Roman held Cairo behind the speedy Super Amia (Samantha Fletcher) during the early exchanges but, coming across the dummy rails Cairo took over and began to draw even further away for an emphatic win. Out On A Limb (Reyan Lewis) placed second with Super Amia in the third spot.

Three horses claimed

Three horses were claimed on the 10-race programme. The lone claim in the third race, Stallwalkin’girl was claimed from trainer Carl Anderson for $350,000 by Anthony Nunes for owners David Miller, Rawdon Persad and Stephan Narinesingh.

In the sixth race, Renex Burrell claimed Cue Three from Ryan Williams for owner Geraint Parchment; and Phillip Lee claimed Hail Mary from David Lee-Sin for owner Leroy Williams. Both horses were claimed for $250,000.

Marvin Campbell notches his first seasonal winner

Trainer Marvin Campbell earned his first win for the season after his four-yearold bay filly Blusie won a Restricted Allowance event over 5 ½ furlongs (1,100m).

Ridden by apprentice Daniel Satchell, Blusie (Blue Pepsi Lodge – Validity) got a good break and raced in second position behind Alexa’s Star (Delroy Beharie), with Dreamingofanna (Prince Holder) in third place on the inside rails.

Approaching the home turn, Blusie surged to the lead and began to open up on the field at the top of the straight. Once settling for the drive, there was no stopping Blusie as she cruised home to win by a comfortable five lengths.

Dreamingofanna was second, with Sacrifice (Jerome Innis) in third place. The final time for the event was 1:07.3. Lovely Day (Raddesh Roman), the favourite in the event, finished second but was disqualified and placed out of the frame in 14th position for causing interference and intimidation to Stormy Lady (Omar Walker) at the three-furlong (600m) marker.

Whatever a winner down the five-straight course

After running some good races on the round course without winning, Whatever made no mistakes down the five straight (1,000m) to get off the mark, after 15 career starts.

Justsaytheword (Jerome Innis) got a flyer and shot to the lead in the early part of the contest, while Kings Treasure (Paul Francis), Money Call (Phillip Parchment), Dynamax Cat (Roger Hewitt) and Whatever (Reyan Lewis) watched from behind.

Coming across the dummy rails, Cali Dreamer (Jemar Jackson) got into the mix and challenged Justsaytheword for the lead inside the final furlong (1,000m), and then Whatever was produced on the outside and blew by rivals to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Cali Dreamer was second and Justsaytheword third, with a final time for the distance recorded at 1:03.2.