Dawkins leads the pack in another Caribbean sweep at Assiniboia Downs
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (CMC) — Jamaican jockey Dane Dawkins led another Caribbean clean sweep on the mid-week racing programme on Wednesday (July 3) at the Assiniboia Downs racetrack in Canada.
Dawkins, the 2022 Jamaica champion jockey, landed a double win on the seven-race card to carry his aggregate to five for the season — which started on May 20 and ends on September 17 — at the central Canadian racing facility. He is now tied for eighth in the jockeys’ standings with compatriot Javaniel Patterson.
Current jockeys’ leader Prayven Badrie of Trinidad and Tobago led the list of other Caribbean reinsmen winning on the card that included the Jamaican pair of Neville Stephenson and Douglas Badaloo, and Barbadians Rachaad Knights and Renaldo Cumberbatch.
Dawkins notched his first win of the day when the 6-1 bet Sparkling Silver beat five other fillies and mares three years old and upward that have never won three races by 1 1/2 lengths in the CAD$10,200 claiming second race over six furlongs on the dirt course.
Sparkling Silver had speed early between the front-running pair of Lady Cop, under Badrie, and Golden Train, ridden by Stephenson, before Dawkins put her to track the leader from the outside into the final turn, and then set the four-year-old bay filly to challenge Lady Cop in the final turn — winning a stretch duel to clock one minute, 13.55 seconds.
Dawkins returned to boot home undisputed favourite Silver Blur by a neck in the CAD$20,000 maiden special weight third race for maidens three years old and upward over six furlongs on the dirt course.
The Jamaican rider had to steady his mount early between horses after Golden Diversion, under compatriot Chavion Chow, broke inwards, but Silver Blur recovered and was put into a stalking position to force the pacesetters off the rail.
Dawkins rallied Silver Blur between Golden Diversion and Icouldbetheone, under Cumberbatch, and his mount took over late to finish in 1 minute, 13.55 seconds.
Badrie grew his lead by one to amass four over nearest rivals Knights and compatriot Damario Bynoe, when he collected his 20th win of the season aboard the 5-1 choice
Magnolia Speed.
The three-year-old, dark bay gelding came with a long, determined rally to take over late and win by a neck in 1:12.71 in the CAD$16, 500 allowance optional claiming sixth race over six furlongs for three-year-olds and upward that have not won a race other than a maiden, claiming, starter or restricted, or never won three races.
Earlier, Knights moved into a two-way tie for second with Bynoe, on 16 wins, when he opened the card with a comfortable 5 1/4-length win on 2-5 favourite Lab Rat in the CAD$10,000 claiming first race over 1,100 metres for three-year-olds and upward that have not won a race since January 3. The winning time was 1:05.82.
Cumberbatch logged his 13th win of the season to cement sixth place in the standings when he drove 3-1 chance S C Angel to score by a neck in a time of 1:15.06 in the CAD$10,000 claiming fourth race over 1 100 metres for fillies and mares three years old and upward that have not won a race since January 3. The winning time was.
Stephenson — seventh in the standings on seven wins — won astride odds-on favourite
Spire by one length in the CAD$16,500 allowance optional claiming fifth race over six furlongs for three-year-olds and upward that have not won a race other than a maiden, claiming, starter or restricted, or never won three races. The winning time was 1:12.52.
And Badaloo copped his first win of the season when he proved his riding skills and propelled the 54-1 ranked long-shot
Captive Kitten to a three-quarter length score in the CAD$15,000 claiming final race over 1,500 metres for three-year-olds and upward. The winning time was 1:35.22.