Classy Crucial Appeal lands the tenth
CRUCIAL APPEAL dug in determinedly under a hand ride from Dane Nelson to thwart a sustained challenge from A.P.I., landing yesterday’s closing event by a head at 1000 metres straight.
Sent down in class among $850,000 optional claimers, the speedy eight-year-old g e l d i n g t r a c k e d A . P. I . a n d STANISLAUS before taking charge coming out of the fivestraight chute, his favourite trip.
Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas tried hard to rally A.P.I., but the four-year-old filly could not head off the ageing warrior, who stayed on strongly to clock 59.2 seconds for the distance.
Former two-time champion apprentice Doushane Gordon continued his comeback by booting home a fine double for trainer Fitznahum Williams – ADORING LADY at odds of 3-1 in the second event and 30-1 stunner STORM VALLEY in the fourth.
Gordon, sidelined for a few years with weight issues, made all aboard ADORING LADY at 1000 metres straight and returned t o win t he fourth astride STORM VALLEY, outbattling TEN CARATS with Wesley Henry at 1400 metres.
New female trainer Kibbeisha Little got a winner with her first starter, 6-1 mild upsetter, NASDAQ PRINCESS, who chased and beat 2-5 favourite RED DREAD in the 1200-metre Roderick ‘Pilot’ Francis Trophy for conditional $180,000 claimers.
Racing continues at Caymanas Park on Saturday. Weather: Fine