Integrity and his jockey are surrounded by a large crowd after winning the feature race at Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack on St Thomas, USVI on September 18, 2016. Photo: Provided

Honors (left) and Giant Valley (right) of Tortola will be challenging horses from the US Virgin Islands in the featurerace at Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack on St Thomas on September 18, 2016. Photo: Andre 'Shadow' Dawson/VINO

Lesmore Smith has no issues with his horse, Giant Valley, going into the race as an underdog! Photo: Andre 'Shadow' Dawson/VINO

The line-up for the first, second and fifth race of the day. Photo: VINO

The line-up for the 3rd and 4th races of the day. Photo: VINO

The feature race, billed locally as a showdown between Integrity and St Moose of the USVI, also featured Giant Valley and Honors, owned by Top Priority Stables and Family Affairs Stables on Tortola respectively.

The Tortola pair, however, was only able to muster fourth and fifth place finishes.

The race was won in a time of 1:31 and 2 by Integrity ahead of St Moose and Call Daddy.

Other results

Race one was claimed by Sparky Bee in a time of 1:11 and 4 ahead of Starvingartist and El Indultado.

Race two saw Centre Gold romp across the line in 1:12 and 2, with Gus is Tuff second and Warrensbrotherbill third.

Big Meow was a no show

Race three saw a new track record established as Brass Note crossed the line in 1: 40 to win the one mile and forty yard dash. Noble Forever came home second and Perfect Sunday third.

Race four was also won in 1: 40 by Scripture N’ Verse ahead of My Secret Lady and Academic Probation.

Efforts to reach the owners of Giant Valley and Honors were unsuccessful up to publication time.

See previous story published September 16, 2016

Giant Valley & Honors to face USVI’s best on Sept 18, 2016

- entered in feature race @ Clinton E. Phipps racetrack on St Thomas

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Four of the territory’s finest horses are making the trek to St Thomas, US Virgin Islands for the ‘Three Island Link Up’ at Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack on Sunday September 18, 2016.

The feature race is being billed by the hosts as a battle over 7 ½ Furlongs between Integrity and St Moose, but judging by word from inside the stables, Honors should not be taken lightly and of course Giant Valley is ignored at other owners’ peril.

Both Honors of Family Affairs Stables and Giant Valley of Top Priority Stables are already settled in by the track, ahead of Sunday, and according to Lesmore Smith, owner of Giant Valley, fully fit and ready for action.

“It’s going to a really good, exciting race,” he commented. “I’m happy that they are billing it as a clash between Integrity and the Moose, as that allows us to do what we do best, slip in quietly do our thing and win.”

Giant Valley has already tasted much success in St Thomas, notably as Governor’s Cup winner and seems to sense the building anticipation.

“A little feisty and playing up on first arrival, but definitely full of confidence and raring to go,” noted Smith.

Call Daddy and Pumped Up Kicks make up the rest of the field challenging for a purse of $7,000.

Other races

The first race, over 6 Furlongs for Class D horses, of the five card total is worth $4,000 to the winner and is scheduled to start at 1.30 P.M. The field contains Go Pancho Go, Sparky Bee, EzEddie, The Starvingartist, El Indultado and El Convidado.

Race two, over six Furlongs with a Purse of $4,300 is for Class C horses with a field including Big Meow of Notorious Housing Stable and owned by Wasi Charleswell, Center Gold, Atrevete, Nantucketeer, Warrensbrotherbill and Gus is Tuf.

The third race, over one mile and forty yards, for Class B and C horses, with a purse of $4.600, features Hows a Wynner, Noble Forever, Brass Note, Il Volo and Perfect Sunday.

Race four is an Open one miler with Extra Dinner, Academic Probation, Scripture N Verse and My Secret Lady competing for a purse of $5,000.

The last race is the one that the crowd will be looking for and although the USVI fans are hoping for a two horse race between the Moose and Integrity, Giant Valley can never be found far from the front when it matters and Honors will be expecting to silence the crowd with a one, two finish.

What the final order will be? Wait and see!