West Indians make mark at Marquis Downs
SASKATCHEWAN, Canada (CMC): NAIM SAMAROO collected a double and was crowned champion jockey at the Marquis Downs race track on Saturday.
The long-standing Trinidad & Tobago jockey led the way when Caribbean riders won all but three races on the card at the racetrack located in this central Canadian province, moving his aggregate for the season to 36 -eight clear of Jamaican veteran Neville Stephenson.
Samaroo clinched the CAD $3,900 (JMD$412,870) first race of the day, when he directed the 3-5 favourite Halkirk to a onelength victory in a driving finish.
Halkirk, a three-year-old, chestnut gelding, was away alertly and duelled with the front-runners before getting up in the final strides to finish 1,200 metres on the dirt with a time of one minute, 12.45 seconds.
Samaroo also landed the CAD $4,000 (JMD$ 423,732) fifth race, when he piloted the 3-2 favourite Fourth In Command to a convincing seven and a half-length victory in an easy ride to the line.
Fourth In Command, a five-year-old bay mare, was also away alertly and vied for the lead through the early fractions before drawing clear in the stretch and easily proving she was the best to clock 1 min, 12.46 secs.
FINAL MARK
In between, Stephenson, as well as compatriots Garfield Gordon and Oral Bennett left their final mark on the season.
Stephenson came away with a three-quarter lengths win aboard the 9-1 choice Enos in the CAD $3,000 (JMD$ 317,978) second race, also going 1,200m on the dirt.
Enos, a four-year-old chestnut gelding, did a time of 1 min, 13.61 secs, after he got up in the final strides.
Gordon grabbed a two and a quarter-length victory astride the 10-1 outsider Evening Light in the CAD $4,200 (JMD$445,457) third race, also running 1,200m on the dirt.
Evening Light, a five-year-old chestnut mare, clocked 1 min, 12.61 secs, after drawing clear in the upper stretch for the win.
And Bennett logged a one and a quarter-length win on the 7-2 choice Min Wa Kee in the CAD $3,800 (JMD$403,032) fourth race contested over 1,300m, also on the dirt.
Min Wa Kee, a four-year-old bay filly, finished in 1 min, 19.31 secs, after emerging from the middle of the pack before vying for the lead in the upper stretch and holding on in a driving finish.