Nelson shines with double at Century Mile

EDMONTON, Alberta (CMC):

Reigning jockeys champion Dane Nelson continued his hot pursuit of championship leader Jose Asencio when he reeled off a double at Century Mile on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old Jamaican logged wins in race four over six furlongs with favourite Kauai Dan and in race seven over 6-½ furlongs with 3-1 chance Joy in Grace.

Nelson lies second in the standings on 24 points, 10 adrift of Asencio, with impressive Barbadian Rasheed Hughes a further six back in third.

There were wins for several other Caribbean riders on the eight-race programme as Barbadian Kyle Carter captured the day’s opener – a 5-1/2 furlong sprint – aboard 11-1 choice Majestic Horizon and fellow countryman Jarelle Beckles took race three, also over 5-1/2 furlongs with 15-1 outsider Wheelsupinthirty.

Two other Barbadians tasted success as N’Rico Prescod captured race six over a mile with 2-1 bet Cab Sav and veteran Desmond Bryan paired with 2-1 chance Six Shots of T to win the day’s finale over 5-1/2 furlongs.

It was Nelson who took the honours, however, opening his account by steering nine-year-old mare Kauai Dan to a one-length score over the three-year-olds and upward.

Two-to-one chance Stone Carve led for most of the trip before Nelson brought Kauai Dan with an outside run to get the better of the pacesetter.

Nelson’s second win came in a stalking ride when he combined with six-year-old bay mare Joy in Grace to collar the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by two lengths.

Church Harbor and favourite Bootiful Rose battled for the lead through the half to lead into the stretch before being caught by Joy in Grace.