Aaron Chatrie was once rated as one of our top young riders especially noted for his ability to stick to the rails and get the best results. Then he took a break for personal reasons and has now returned. His efforts since the return have not been the best, but he continues to try. His inability to enter into the winners’ enclosure was temporarily relieved on Saturday last when he booted home two winners, Mom Rules, who won the first two-year-old race of the season going over the round course, and Natural Fantasy for trainer Lorne Kirlew in a $250,000 claiming event. Continue to build, Sir Chatrie!

PICK-9 CARRYOVER MOVES OVER $3.5 m

The Pick-9 exotic wager is proving a difficult task for punters. Last Saturday bettors again failed to catch this popular betting item, leading to a whopping carryover going into tomorrow’s 10-race card of over $3.6 m. For sure, punters will be doing their assessments and the promoting company can expect renewed betting interest in the Pick-9. The Super 6s remain at the minimum payout levels of $750,000 each.

BADALOO SCORES SECOND WIN ON TOOTING KAT

Since the start of the year, young rider Douglas Badaloo has ridden only one winner. He doubled his tally last Saturday when he piloted the Patrick ‘Wacky’ Lynch-trained Tooting Kat to a good win in a maiden three-year-old event over the 1000 metres straight course. The win by Badaloo was greeted well by the public and the connections of Tooting Kat. Lynch has been quietly having a good season, posting his eleventh winner for the year. What was also interesting about Tooting Kat’s win was that it has been a very long time since a horse with the word ‘cat’ or ‘kat’ in his/her name was winning a race without the involvement of owner, trainer, and breeder Carl Anderson.

A TRIPLE FOR CARDENAS

Jockey Dick Cardenas is riding in fine form of late. His triple last Saturday included MrLuval for Wayne DaCosta, Funny Side for Cleveland Miller (the trainer’s first-ever win) Man Alive. Man Alive was slated to be ridden by champion Dane Nelson, so Cardenas got a chance to ride. Cardenas’ win on MrLuval was particularly refreshing as he was locked in a duel with leading rider Omar Walker who rode Zacapa from four furlongs out, only getting the upper hand in the last half-a-furlong of the event. It was a duel involving two of our top riders which fans watching at the Park really got into and relished. The ride on Funny Side coming from way off the pace led to silence as he scored at odds of 6-1.

GRIFFITHS STILL ‘FANNING’ AWAY

Winston ‘Fanna’ Griffiths has been riding at Caymanas Park for a long time, and despite the effects of ‘Father Time’ he continues to demonstrate his uncanny ability for riding winners. On Saturday last he showed why he still remains one of our best riders, scoring on El Poderoso for Phillip Feanny. As things go, it was an easy win for Griffiths but it is always good to see him unsaddling in the winners’ enclosure.