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UPDATE: St Moose was untouchable - James Bates

- St Moose of St Croix dusts the field in the 2015 VI Triple Crown first leg
St Moose (outside lane) from St Croix laid down a strong statement of intent by winning the Turtle Dove Classic, the VI Triple Crown first leg, by a huge ten lengths. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
In the winner's circle! St Moose owner James Bates (red shirt) is presented with the winner's trophy by President of the VI Horse Owners' Association Karen B. Smith Aaron (blue shirt). Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
In the winner's circle! St Moose owner James Bates (red shirt) is presented with the winner's trophy by President of the VI Horse Owners' Association Karen B. Smith Aaron (blue shirt). Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Winner of the Eileen Parsons Classic, over 5 furlongs, Machoramus. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Winner of the Eileen Parsons Classic, over 5 furlongs, Machoramus. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
 Increase My Income, winner of the William Rhymer Rumble. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Increase My Income, winner of the William Rhymer Rumble. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Fort Pyramid won the Oliver Cills Showdown in a time of 1:30 and 4. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Fort Pyramid won the Oliver Cills Showdown in a time of 1:30 and 4. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Bitter Sweet Dream of L and B Stables took the Axel Ritter Special. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Bitter Sweet Dream of L and B Stables took the Axel Ritter Special. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Stephen Got Better, the VI Queen, won the Patsy Lake Invitational, over 5 furlongs, ahead of Luxury Appeal. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Stephen Got Better, the VI Queen, won the Patsy Lake Invitational, over 5 furlongs, ahead of Luxury Appeal. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Doughmaker of L and B Stables won the Allen
Doughmaker of L and B Stables won the Allen "Tiger" Hodge Memorial in 1:46 flat. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI – Despite a below par performance from his horse in St Croix recently, popular horse owner and trainer James Bates was confident that St Moose was going to destroy the competition in the first leg of the VI Triple Crown at Ellis Thomas Downs on Sunday January 18, 2015.

The moose was definitely on the loose Sunday as St Moose, spurred on by the cheering crowd, romped to victory in the race, also known as the Turtle Dove Classic.

Contested over 1 and 1/16th mile, the feature race became a complete rout down the back straight and around the final bend as the horse from St Croix blew away Trading Secrets and the rest of the field, to win by 10 lengths in a time of 1:50 and 1.

The first half of the race had been reasonably competitive but owner James Bates was not surprised by the win. “He ran a little sickly in St Croix, but has been fantastic in training ahead of today and we knew that no one could touch him over this distance.”

Jockey Winston Hurst Jnr commented afterwards that once the horse heard the crowd he just opened up and sped down the home straight.

The day had begun with Machoramus from St Thomas winning the Eileen Parsons Classic over 5 furlongs in a time of 1:01 and 3. Coming down the back straight the horse finally put to bed the challenge from Good Boy Daddy and the rest of the field to lead home Peacephilly by a length. Original Runner came third and Good Boy Daddy fourth.

Race number two, The William Rhymer Rumble, over 6 ½ furlongs, with a purse of $4500, was won by the aptly named Increase My Income. Ridden by Andy Hernandez, the horse came home in 1:25 and four, with Sin Mirar Atras second, two lengths back. King Hugo came third and Prince of Speed, fourth.

The Oliver Cills Showdown, over 7 furlongs, with a purse of $5000, saw Fort Pyramid last into the gate, but first across the line in a time of 1:30 and four, a length ahead of Jordan’s Image

Enos Aaron of the winning Boy’s Stable noted “it was a good, good race. He’s not the best when it comes to training, but always races good.”

Kid from Comerio finished third with Star Ship Titan fourth.

The one mile, Axel Ritter Special, went to Bitter Sweet Purse of L and B Racing Stables, in a time of 1:48 and four. Extra Dinner finished second, a length behind.

Miss Homer was tucked in behind Bitter Sweet Dream down the back straight, but Extra Dinner took over the pursuit of Bitter Sweet Dream and pushed hard all the way down the home stretch, but just couldn’t quite catch up. Orithyia finished fourth.

The Patsy Lake Invitational, over 5 furlongs and with a purse of $7500, was marred by the pulling up lame of Kanavayen before reaching the first bend. However Stephen Got Better and Luxury Appeal battled it out until the final moments, when the VI Queen, SGB, romped to its 15th straight victory in a time of 1:01 flat.

Race day concluded with the Allen “Tiger” Hodge Memorial, run over a mile with a purse of $7000.

All three entrants were making their debut at Ellis Thomas Downs and Doughmaker decided he quite liked the place, giving L and B another win, in 1:46 flat, ahead of Uptown Anthem and Blast of Macho.

“Don’t make noise, don’t make noise,” were the cries from the stables, followed by “but that’s a real horse!”

See article published January 18, 2015

St Moose blows out field to win first leg of VI Triple Crown 2015

- Tortola’s Trading Secrets romps home second

SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI- The Turtle Dove Classic, the first leg of the re-launched VI Triple Crown, has been taken by St Moose of St Croix, United States Virgin Islands (USVI).

The horse, trained and owned by the popular James Bates, outclassed the field in the race that was contested over a distance of a mile and 1/16 at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay today, January 18, 2015.

St Moose, ridden by Winston Hurst, galloped to victory in a time of one fifty and one to beat off the competition of second placed Trading Secrets by 10 lengths. Third was Swagg Daddy.

"He went with the flow and hearing the crowd he opened up down the backstraight. This distance is easy for the horse and we expected a comfortable win," said St Moose's jockey Winston Hurst after the win.

Virgin Islands News Online will bring you more results shortly.

23 Responses to “UPDATE: St Moose was untouchable - James Bates”

  • ccc (18/01/2015, 17:45) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    No surprise here deman
  • Cruz (18/01/2015, 19:19) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Deh Moose went loose!
  • xxxxxxxx (18/01/2015, 19:35) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    well bob go shop quick bossman
    • .... (18/01/2015, 20:59) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
      He did. Dough Maker is the name of the game. Won his race easily as well.
      • beast (18/01/2015, 22:31) Like (6) Dislike (6) Reply
        Doughmaker has class for trading secrets, Chilean boy etc. but is seriously outclassed by St.Moose, if bates keeps that horse good, he can be the next big thing. Majestic express is the only class for that horse I see right now.
      • @ .... (18/01/2015, 23:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Good news then!
  • Tola horse man (19/01/2015, 07:33) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    @ beast where were you or what you was watching our jockey stop riding , st moose is good Cruz enjoy your win just like slevin won the first leg an was his last same story for st moose its the Return of L&B stales no one holds what's rightfully ours his name is DOMAKER remember it will be VI signature
    • Horse (19/01/2015, 10:42) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      @ tola horse man.. First of all his name is DOUGHMAKER, second.. Look at his history doughmaker ran for 50k at most. Regardless if jockey stop riding or not! Trading secrets is NO CLASS FOR ST.MOOSE. St.moose ran for 100k plus beat horses like constitution etc. you ain't no horse man so change your name, and do your homework! Class is class. St. Moose had class! And I agree with @ Beast 100%.. Do y'all homework.
  • facts man (19/01/2015, 10:57) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    This race was a miss match
  • shatta (19/01/2015, 12:30) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Air Canada touch down now, lets see who got guts
  • l & b (19/01/2015, 13:57) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    we are on track to make a comeback
    • Fan (19/01/2015, 22:53) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      so happy the boss is free as he and the rest are contributors to our society rather than takers
  • Tola horse man (19/01/2015, 17:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cruz say because st moose cost more and Ran for more he out class Doughmaker talk that after we meet...............old talk that 1 mile 1/8 Put All your marbles in the Bucket talk don
  • eat your heart out! (20/01/2015, 07:49) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    St. Moose win was picture perfect
  • Biggs (20/01/2015, 20:21) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    St.moos is the biggest horse in the VI and the other big horse like him was primerica and timberhield.
  • ..... (21/01/2015, 10:07) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply

    St. Moose won by more than 20 lengths. Seriously.

  • Bryant gonzalez (16/02/2015, 12:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ignorant really uptown cost 35 and slevin 75 and never Beat him its not the price is the work and love you put on the horse and antonio cordero its the best at it haannn!


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