EDMONTON, Canada (CMC) – Jamaican jockey Dane Nelson captured the feature CAN$50,000 Shirley Vargo Handicap with favourite Dance Shoes, as he rode a double on Friday’s nine-race card at Century Mile.

Going seven furlongs in race eight, the 37-year-old Nelson partnered with the four-year-old chestnut filly to beat the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by a length, reaching the wire in one minute, 22:22 seconds.

Eleven-to-one chance Plum Blue ran second, finishing 1-¼ lengths ahead of third placed Run Lola, in at odds of 4-1.

The double for Nelson saw him edge two clear of defending champion Barbadian Rico Walcott, moving to 22 wins to be second behind leader Enrique Gonzalez on 24.

Walcott managed a single win on the card when he piloted favourite Maria’s Song to a three-quarter length score in race six over 6-½ furlongs to collar the three-year-olds and upward.

Nelson shone brightly, however, opening his account with eight-year-old bay gelding Chaska by beating the three-year-olds and upward by a length over 6-½ furlongs.

Bar No Q and Paddysdaycharm contested the pace through the early fractions before Chaska, installed at nearly even odds, made his bid at the top of the lane and wore down the leaders.

Nelson followed up with the biggest prize of the day in the Shirley Vargo. Pacesetters Lucy Treasure and Pearl of Knowledge made the early running, pulling the field through 22.29 seconds for the quarter and 44.25 for the half, with Nelson settling Dance Shoes well off the pace.

Eighteen-to-one choice Sangria, with Walcott aboard, attacked first but Nelson brought Dance Shoes to challenge in the stretch and edged away from her rival late on.