LOVE DUB RELEASES MAIDEN TAG

Three-year-old bay filly Love Dub, after five career starts, found the winning post in front in a native-bred, three-year-old maiden condition event (Division 1) for horses who up to the time did not earn $260,000 at a distance of 5½ furlongs (1,100m).

It was a fair start for Love Dub who broke from the number 13 draw. The Gary Subratie trainee then rushed to take third place behind Northern Lady (Raddesh Roman) and Manaco (Tevin Foster) going into the half-time (800m) turn.

Coming into the lane, Love Dub drew alongside Northern Lady, and a brief battle for supremacy then developed in deep stretch. The red hot jockey Dane Dawkins on Love Dub got into his work, and his mount then edged away in the final furlong (200m) to win by 5¾ lengths in a time of 1:09.0.

Jungle Boogie (Dick Cardenas), who was prominent throughout the race, came on strong on the inside rails to snatch second place from Northern Lady by a nose.

ONEIL SCOTT OFF THE MARK IN 2022

Jockey Oneil Scott rode his first winner for the season aboard the Steven Todd-conditioned Buckaluck in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) spread at 5½ furlongs.

Sent off as the 2-5 odds-on favourite, Buckaluck settled in third place going into the half-mile turn behind Uncle Wal (Richard Henry) and Flying Bullet (Ricardo Duhaney). Scott let loose Buckaluck approaching the distance and the nine-year-old dark bay mare surrounded runners entering the straight.

In deep stretch, Buckaluck was challenged by Stormy Lady (Delroy Beharie) and the two went at each other in a tight battle of their own. In the end, Buckaluck proved the stronger of the two, getting home by 2½ lengths.

Stormy Lady was a clear second, some 12¼ lengths ahead of Uncle Wal in third place. The final time recorded was 1:11.0.

EQUIPMENT CHANGE DOES IT FOR MONSIEUR BLUE

Monsieur Blue, running without the tongue tie, easily defeated rivals in a maiden special weight contest for native-bred three-year-olds going a mile (1600m).

Trained by Gresford Smith and ridden by Andre Powell, Monsieur Blue (Tourist – La Hague) didn’t have the best start but the three-year-old bay gelding coupled up nicely and cruised down into third place when passing the intersection at the 7-furlong point, behind Storm A Come (Dane Dawkins) and Howilookin (Tevin Foster).

Monsieur Blue, running the inside rails, improved one spot to second leaving the 6-furlong (1,200m) point behind Storm A Come before surging to the front going into the final bend. Turning for home, Monsieur Blue kept up his work to win by 7¾ lengths in a final time of 1:43.2.

Secret Emperor (Shane Ellis) finished strong towards the end for second money, as Howilookin came home in third place.

BLINKERS OFF, CHEEKPIECES ON, AND DODGE THIS LINK IS A WINNER

After finishing a length second to XY Soul over 5½ furlongs on July 16, the Ian Parsard-trained Dodge This Link returned without the blinkers but with the cheekpieces on and romped home in a five-year-old and upwards (non-winners of three) travelling 6½ furlongs (1,300m).

Dodge This Link, ridden by Dane Dawkins, raced prominently into third place down the backstretch behind Daytona Belle (Dick Cardenas) and Toughness (Jordan Barrett). Without wasting much time, Dodge This Link went by runners going into the half-mile turn and began to up the tempo approaching the distance.

Turning for home with no real challenger, Dodge This Link sprinted clear to take the event by 8 lengths, winning in a time of 1:23.3. Toughness ran well for second place with Anngelos (Javaniel Patterson) in the third slot.

TWO HORSES CLAIMED

Just one claiming race was on offer on the 11-race programme.

In the second event, Nicholas Smith claimed Uncle Wal for owner Connecticut for $250,000 from Norman Smith, while Michael McIntosh claimed winner Buckaluck for himself, also for $250,000, from Steven Todd.