History made
Samantha Fletcher becomes first female Jamaican rider to win in Canada with a double; Dane Nelson also rides double
SAMANTHA Fletcher made history on Saturday, June 15, 2024 when she became the first female Jamaican jockey to win a race in Canada.
Fletcher expertly guided home Behind the Curtain to a thrilling half-length victory in the sixth race at the Century Mile Racetrack, edging out fellow Jamaican and reigning champion Dane Nelson aboard Bratton in a fiercely contested claiming race at six furlongs.
Fletcher hustled up Behind the Curtain on the inside rails to take up a slim lead entering the far turn.
Behind The Curtain responded gamely to challengers and held on in the end for the win. The Cheryl Humbke-conditioned Behind the Curtain won in a time of 1:10.3.
Fletcher wasn’t done yet, however. She doubled down on her success, riding
Classy Rose to victory in the eighth and final event, also going six furlongs.
Classy Rose, also trained by Humbke, prompted the pace from the three path before gaining control of the race at the three-sixteenth marker.
Classy Rose responded well to Fletcher’s urgings and outran rivals in deep stretch to win by three-parts of a length at the wire.
Sizzlin Rose (Anastaios Chalaris) finished second in a final time of 1:12.4.
Nelson also had a double on the card, riding Midnight Garden and Little Chicago in the fourth and seventh races, respectively.
Trained by Craig Smith, Midnight Garden was a neck in front at the wire, ahead of Beautiful Babe (Keithton Natera), in a claiming race over seven furlongs.
Midnight Garden won in a time of 1:26.1.
Little Chicago, trained by Ron Grieves, won a claiming race over one mile by a head, defeating Give Em Heck Beck (Rafael Zenteno Jr) at the line. The final time of the race was 1:39.1.
“Well, it is always good to win races and I am always happy and grateful for winning races. I must thank the trainers, owners, grooms, and all connections for the support. I want to defend my title — and I am working on that,” Nelson told the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide.
He added: “Congratulations to Sammy [Samantha Fletcher] for winning her first race on the international riding circuit. Her two wins are for the hard work and dedication she has put into the sport.”
With those two winners Nelson took his tally for the season to 15 victories, one win behind leader Jose Asencio (16 winners) in the race for the jockey’s championship.
Fletcher is 10th in the standing with her two winners. Fellow Jamaicans Ruja Lahoe is 11th with two winners, while Linton Steadman is 15th with one winner.
