Nelson poised for win aboard Generational
Published:Saturday | October 3, 2020 | 12:11 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
THREE-time champion jockey, Dane Nelson, should this afternoon respond to Anthony Thomas’ last-weekend blitz of eight winners, which has left him seven winners behind the new leader in their battle atop the riders’ standings.
Nelson actually started the weekend one winner ahead of a seemingly inconspicuous Thomas, 45-44, before all hell broke loose, sentencing the 2012-14 riders’ champion to three consecutive meets without a win whereas his rival went on a rampage.
Having secured hot mounts on this afternoon’s10-race card, Nelson should not only break his barren spell but also reignite the rivalry among the barns of 18-time champion trainer Wayne DaCosta and leader Anthony Nunes, who defeated him last season to lift his first crown.
Nelson is aboard Nunes’ non-winner-of-two, local-bred GENERATIONAL, in a five-and-a-half furlong sprint for three-year-olds whereas Thomas has the leg up on DaCosta’s imported maiden, WHOSHOTTHESHERIFF.
Partnered by Thomas, the 2019 champion rider, WHOSHOTTHESHERIFF ran a big race with the tongue tie removed in the Miracle Cure Sprint two Saturdays ago, finishing fourth in a four-way photo won by ALEXA’S LODGE.
However, GENERATIONAL’s form, before and after getting off the mark on July 25, has been littered with return winners. Though he finished fourth in back-to-back races, the likes of FEARLESS CHAMPION, SHEPANZA and BASILICUS emerged as winners from both events, leaving GENERATIONAL to frank the form.
A hot pace is expected with WHOSHOTTHESHERIFF renewing rivalry with DOUBLE JEOPARDY, who had inherited the lead in the Miracle Cure Sprint from PRINCESS KYRA before both were cut down by ALEXA’S LODGE near the wire.
WHOSHOTTHESHERIFF’s stablemate, CASUAL AFFAIR, is also a useful sprinter, so too Richard Azan’s VOYTEK, both having raced prominently against winner BASILICUS at four furlongs straight on September 6.
Nelson has been aboard GENERATIONAL for his last three races and knows the lay of the land, how to keep out of trouble in what will be a mad rush to the half-mile.
Though WHOSHOTTHESHERIFF appears improved, GENERATIONAL has kept stronger company and was particularly impressive when beaten into fourth by GREEN GOLD RUSH, FEARLESS CHAMPION and SHEPANZA at seven furlongs, showing grit to the furlong pole where he was eventually collared.