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Dominant Nelson takes control

Published:Wednesday | May 15, 2019 | 12:25 AM
Dane Nelson aboard Awesome Aviator.
Dane Nelson aboard Awesome Aviator.

EDMONTON, Canada (CMC):

Jamaican jockey Dane Nelson dominated the weekend at the newly minted Century Mile racetrack, coming away with seven wins to storm to the top of the early standings.

Riding on Sunday’s seven-race card, Nelson captured the curtain-raiser aboard 3-1 choice Spectrus, bringing the 10-year-old roan gelding from off the pace to beat the three-year-olds and upwards by half-length in a six-furlong contest.

Nelson was in the winner’s circle again in race three when he paired with another 3-1 chance, Dura’s Halo, to edge the three-year-old-and-upwards maiden fillies and mares by a nose, after the four-year-old bay filly had stalked pace setter Country Roads for most of the five-furlong sprint.

He rode his third winner in race five over five furlongs, combining with favourite Wynn Wynn to crush the three-year-old maiden fillies by 7-1/4 lengths after leading every step of the way with the three-year-old bay filly.

Barbadian Damario Bynoe also made his presence felt on the card, winning with favourite Tricked My Ride in race four over 5-1/2 furlongs before returning to capture race six over six furlongs with a front-running effort aboard 10-year-old chestnut gelding Pakal.

Nelson had earlier on Saturday also commanded the headlines with four winners on the seven-race card. He opened his account in race two over 5-1/2 furlongs with favourite Super Good, carrying the four-year-old roan filly to a 4-¾ length victory over the three-year-old-and-upwards maiden fillies and mares.

Nelson then followed up in race three with another favourite, Miss Invasive, producing a gate-to-wire effort to fire the three-year-old roan filly to a 5-1/2 length trouncing of the three-year-old-and-upwards fillies and mares.

His third win came when he combined with four-year-old gelding Top Notch Scotch to beat the three-year-olds and upwards by 3-1/4 lengths in a 5-1/2 furlong sprint in race four.

And he signed off on the day’s proceedings by guiding favourite Wilko Lovesong to a 1-1/2 length win over the three-year-old-and-upwards fillies and mares in race seven over six furlongs.