Whitehall notches 12th season win

EDMONTON, Alberta – Barbadian Antonio Whitehall rode a superb triple on Sunday’s ten-race card, to burst into contention in the jockeys standings at Century Mile following a sluggish start to the season in western Canada.

The 27-year-old won race three with 3-1 chance Ruck, followed up in race four with favourite Dreadnaught before guiding 3-20 bet Departure to success in race eight.

Whitehall flirted with a four-timer when he finished second in race five over six furlongs with 3-1 chance Brioso, one length behind winner Ever True.

Fellow Barbadian Rico Walcott, the defending champion at Century Mile, also tasted success on the day’s card when he won the day’s final two races.

He paired with 2-1 choice Go Away to beat the three-year-olds and upward by a head over seven furlongs, stalking pacesetter Sharp Dressed Beau before producing a flying late run.

Walcott then made virtually all the running in race ten with favourite This Time Lucky, getting the four-year-old gelding to trounce the three-year-olds and upward by four lengths in a six furlong sprint.

The 30-year-old tops the standings with 16 wins, one clear of Jamaican Andre Martin, with Whitehall three back in fifth on 12 wins for the new season which got underway May 16 and ends October 30.

Whitehall found the winners’ enclosure with his very first ride of the day when he took eight-year-old bay gelding Ruck to a one length victory over the three-year-olds and upward.

Going a mile, Roman Steel with Barbadian Damario Bynoe aboard, produced the early splits before Whitehall brought Ruck from a stalking position in second to win late on.

His second win came over six furlongs with four-year-old chestnut gelding Dreadnaught, beating the three-year-olds and upward by 1-¼ lengths.

Here Comes Barney and Flat Out Barney duelled through the half-mile before Whitehall took command in the stretch with Dreadnaught.

Whitehall’s final win came in another six furlong sprint when he combined with three-year-old bay gelding Departure to crush the three-year-old and upwards by a whopping seven lengths.

Pull the Pin duelled with First Prince before Whitehall brought Departure from a stalking position to reel in the leaders at the quarter pole and dominate the lane. (CMC)