Husbands closes in on third spot at Woodbine

TORONTO, Canada (CMC):

Reigning Woodbine champion Patrick Husbands rode a handsome double on Wednesday's mid-week card here, as he continued to close in on third spot in the jockeys' championship.

The 42-year-old scored with favourite Pretty Bird in the day's opening race and followed up with another win in race two aboard punters choice, My Name is Michael.

Husbands has picked up the pace after a sluggish start to the season and now has 79 wins, just two adrift of Alan Garcia who lies third on 81.

Eurico Rosa da Silva, the 2010 champion, leads with 128 wins with three-time former champion Luis Contreras eight behind in second.

A seven-time Woodbine champion, Husbands is also now on course to pass 100 wins, a feat he has only failed to accomplish once in 17 full seasons at the prestigious Toronto oval - when he broke his leg in 2013 and missed nearly fourth months of the campaign.

He started brightly on Wednesday, however, making all the running with Pretty Bird over six furlongs to beat the three-year-old fillies by half length.

Husbands broke the bay smartly and duelled with Scindia before getting clear but was forced to the hold off the fast-finishing Woven Lady in the stretch.

In race two over a mile and eighth, Husbands and My Name is Michael barely edged out 5-1 bet Peyton at the wire in a close finish.

The Barbadian sat the five-year-old dark bay off the pace as 2-1 choice Brilliant Comet posted an easy 25.61 seconds for the quarter and 51.30 for the half.

Husbands then roused My Name is Michael heading into the far turn before challenging strongly in the stretch to reel in the leaders and just get up at the wire.