Triple keeps Nelson clear at Century Downs
CALGARY, Canada (CMC) — Jamaican jockey Dane Nelson extended his excellent early season form at Century Downs with a triple on Saturday’s eight-race card here.
Still fresh from his title conquest at Century Mile in Edmonton, Nelson produced another top performance to win race one with 3-4 chance Fast Eh, race three with 4-5 choice Tapfersure before rounding out the day with success in race six with favourite Smilin Evie.
Nelson leads the standings with nine wins, four clear of Barbadian N’Rico Prescod, who notched a single win on Saturday with victory in race four over 3½ furlongs with favourite B B’s Wildfire.
The 39-year-old Nelson opened his account in a 770-yard dash when he got five-year-old chestnut gelding Fast Eh to the wire first after leading from the break, to beat the three-year-olds and upward by three lengths.
He followed up in race three over 7½ furlongs, combining with three-year-old chestnut gelding Tapfersure to get the better of three-year-old and upward maidens again by three lengths.
Nelson put Tapfersure to the front early to reach the half-mile in 49.51 seconds and was without a challenger in the stretch run.
His third win on the programme came over six furlongs when he piloted the four-year-old chestnut filly Smilin Evie to 1½-length score over the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares.
Smilin Evie duelled through splits of 22.88 for the quarter and 45.72 for the half with 9-1 bet Edge of Okotoks, before gaining a short lead on the backstretch and then holding well.
The seven-week Century Downs season winds up October 29.