OneOfAKind still too good for Calculus
Published:Sunday | March 20, 2022 | 12:13 AMAinsley Walters - Sunday Gleaner Writer
ONEOFAKIND yesterday denied CALCULUS a hat-trick of wins against him, outbattling the four-year-old in a stirring stretch duel at seven and a half furlongs to land the Chairman’s Trophy by a neck with Dane Nelson aboard.
Nelson, called in to replace Robert Halledeen, who had narrowly lost back-to-back races astride five-year-old ONEOFAKIND to four-year-old CALCULUS, got the better of Shane Ellis, earning a congratulatory fist-thump from his rival after their mounts flashed past the post glued together.
CALCULUS, who twice beat ONEOFAKIND, January and February, in the Alexander Hamilton Memorial and Miracle Man Trophy, respectively, moved as a team with his rival, but straightened on the inner, as opposed to being off the rail in his two previous victories.
RESTRICTIVE CIRCUMSTANCES
Nelson capitalised on his mid-track position, rallying ONEOFAKIND to close-mark Ellis, who, unable to rouse CALCULUS in tight quarters along the rail, gracefully accepted defeat by a neck under restrictive circumstances.
ONEOFAKIND handed Nelson a second winner on the 10-race card, sharing honours with leading rider, Dane Dawkins.
Nelson, three winners behind Dawkins in the standings, opened his account astride BETTER BEST, who made all in the third event at seven furlongs.
Dawkins opened the programme with 4-5 favourite CITADEL for Harry Parsard. He maintained his lead atop the jockeys’ table with an all-the-way victory astride 6-1 shot SHARP SKIRT for O’Neil Markland in the ninth at six furlongs.
Racing continues at the weekend with a Saturday-Sunday meet.