Balgobin stars, Muir impresses with double
EDMONTON, Ontario (CMC): TRINIDADIAN KEISHAN Balgobin produced a double-stakes performance as he clinched three wins on the 12race card to steal some of the headlines at Northlands Park here Saturday.
The 26-year-old won the CDN$50,000 Red Diamond Express Handicap with 7-1 chance Xtreme Denigray in race four and followed up in race nine by carrying 6-1 bet Northern Locomotive to victory in the $50,000 Beaufort Stakes. He added to his tally by winning race five over six furlongs with favourite We Can Be Heroes, beating the three-year-old and upwards by half-length. Balgobin, regaining his touch following a rough patch of form, now lies fourth on 43 wins, in the season which wraps up on October 22. However, he sits second in the money earnings with $543, 146, only behind runaway leader Rico Walcott with $948, 243.
Balgobin won the Diamond Express in thrilling finish, when he got four-year-old gelding Xtreme Denigray up late to beat the three-year-old and upwards by a neck.
Going 61/2 furlongs, Balgobin saved ground along the rail in fourth as Clever Speed posted the early fractions, before producing a long stretch drive to collar the leaders.
His second stakes win came aboard roan gelding Northern Locomotive in a 13/4 length victory over the three-year-olds going a mile and 16th.
Major Moment, with rookie Jamaican Shamaree Muir, led through the half in 48.38 before Balgobin brought Northern Locomotive from off the pace to beat the field by 13/4 lengths.
The impressive 21-year-old Muir also tasted stakes success when he piloted 4-1 chance Saveitforarainyday to a 4 1/4 length win in the $50,000 Sturgeon River Stakes in race 10 over 6 1/2 furlongs.
Muir also won race three over a mile with favourite Wila’s Secret, taking the three-year-old filly to a three-quarter length victory over the threeyear-old and upward maiden
fillies and mares.