UPDATE - We had a strategy to beat Bud White – says trainer [Photoslide Included]
Basking in the sweet victory, Virgin Islands News Online spoke with Rodney Simmonds, the horse’s trainer, who revealed that his team strategized of how the Tortola horse would emerge winner on the Clinton E, Phipps Race Track.
“We said we were going to come out of the gate really fast, make them think we were going to go fast, let Bud White take the lead and let East End Tap have his way down the stretch. And it worked,” the trainer said.
The seasoned veteran trainer also credited East End Tap’s win to the weather – it had rained briefly in St. Thomas. “He loves to run long, the longer the races the better for him, especially when it’s raining he loves to run in the rain and the mud. He runs better. He loves the mud, he would splash in the mud all day.”
The nail biting and heart pounding mile and 1/8 race saw Bud White running in a close second, followed by Diablo’s Fire (STT); Berberis (St. Croix); Political Reporter (St. Croix) and Good Prospecting (Tortola) respectively.
In addition to the hefty $13,250 purse, East End Tap also copped a $10,000 bonus prize for winning the final leg.
And for his spectacular performance, East End Tap will be treated to his favourite treat, carrots, along with many hugs and kisses. His fans can expect to see him again on the Clinton E. Phipps Race Track during St. Thomas carnival race that is carded for next month.
Horseracing pundits had given East End Tap the edge over second leg winner Bud White as the Tortola horse marked a remarkable comeback from injury. The stallion had been improving race by race plus it had already been proven that Bud White was not invincible as he was beaten in his final race in the United States before coming to St. Thomas.
The first leg of the VI Triple Crown was ran in Tortola on January 15, 2012. Slevin of St. Croix emerged the winner with East End Tap second at the famous Ellis Thomas Downs. Slevin was then scratched from the final leg by its owner James Bates.
The second leg was held at St. Croix’s Randall ‘Doc’ James Racetrack on February 19, 2012 and was won by newcomer Bud White with Slevin beaten into second place and East End Tap running in third.
Apart from East End Tap’s win, the only other Tortola horse to secure a spot on the race card was Out of Wine, a horse that was recently purchased by Lesmore Smith, President of the VI’s Horse Owners’ Association. That horse came in second to Moments Away, St. Croix in the seventh race – 1 mile and 70 yard.
Finish in Style out of St. Thomas ran third.
Tortola’s Broken Home was fourth in his race and Man From The Hill was scratched.
Over 3,000 persons turned out yesterday, and between races were entertained by the St. Thomas Majorettes, Tortola’s reggae sensation Ritical and USVI’s soca diva Rudy.
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