Husbands stars on good day for Caribbean riders

FORT ERIE, Canada – Barbadian Chris Husbands rode a double to headline Caribbean jockeys’ domination of the nine-race card at Fort Erie on Monday, and extend his lead even further in the early stages of the new campaign at the southern Ontario racetrack.

The 31-year-old opened his account at the third time of asking when he paired with favourite Mahone Bay to win race four over 6-½ furlongs.

He then returned in race seven over six furlongs to score with 4-1 bet Moon Rover, taking his tally for the new season to 14.

Husbands is nine clear of the trio of Omar Moreno, Pierre Mailhot and Guyana-born Sunny Singh, in the season which got underway June 15 and wraps October 26.

After finishing fourth in race two with 2-1 bet Souper Deputy and second in race three with 4-1 chance Jmr Awesome Silence, Husbands finally cracked the top spot when he guided five-year-old bay mare Mahone Bay to a narrow victory over the three-year-old and upward maiden fillies and mares.

Longshot San Nicola Prancer held off Martina’s Gal through the half-mile run in 47.32 seconds before 13-1 choice Striking Red took command at the top of the stretch.

Husbands, who had held Mahone Bay well back in the early going, then brought the Sylvester Ollivierre-trained mare with a late charge to win by a neck.

Ollivierre hails from the St Vincent and the Grenadines but now resides in Canada, having relocated here nearly two decades ago.

Husbands came close in race five and six when he finished second aboard Street Joy and Papa Mambo respectively but was back in the winners’ enclosure in the next race, carrying four-year-old bay filly Moon Rover to victory over the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares.

Favourite Nana Sav controlled the early fractions before Husbands bid at the top of the lane and caught the leader in mid-stretch.

Jamaican Mark Lee Buchanan also tasted success, capturing race one over 6-½ furlongs with favourite Canelita while fellow countryman Kirk Johnson partnered with another favourite A Gershwin Tune to beat the three-year-olds and upward in race two over six furlongs.

Barbadian Keveh Nicholls joined the Caribbean party in race three when he piloted favourite Justintimegosnorth to a 1-¾ length score over the three-year-old and upward maidens in race three over seven furlongs.

And veteran Singh took the day’s final race by unfurling a gate-to-wire effort aboard 2-1 chance Springmeier, to trounce the three-year-olds and upward by 2-½ lengths in a 5-½ furlong sprint.

(CMC)