HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida (CMC) — Veteran Barbadian jockey Patrick Husbands came up empty-handed in two rides at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, as he continued to prepare for yet another season at Canada’s prestigious Woodbine.

The 50-year-old missed out aboard favourite Zozan in race four when he finished second for trainer and fellow Barbadian Saffie Joseph Jr, and returned in race eight to finish one from last with 12-1 choice Hockey for long-time boss Mark Casse.

Husbands is expected to be in the irons again when the Woodbine season opens on April 27, the seven-time champion coming off a 2023 campaign which saw him finish sixth with 62 wins.

Going a mile for the three-year-olds-and-upward in race four, Husbands kept the four-year-old gelding Zozan in contention as Cheyenne Brave and Phobia dominated the early fractions of 24.67 and 48.47 seconds.

Husbands slipped Zozan to the front nearing the quarter pole and still led at the sixteenth marker until Edgar Perez brought four-year-old chestnut gelding Curlin’s Kitten with a late run to win by three-quarters of a length.

Going 1 1/16th miles for the three-year-old fillies without a win other than their maiden in race eight, Husbands set the pace with the dark bay filly Hockey, logging splits of 23.10 for the quarter and 47.02 for the half.

Winner De Regreso, a 15-1 shot, stalked from second under Jara Fernando with Roscoe Village and Madame Mischef in contention.

Once De Regreso reeled in Hockey midway the turn, the Casse runner faded badly, with
De Regreso going on to edge favourite Watchtower by a neck.