UPDATE: Leave it to Bern ignites crowd at Ellis Thomas Downs
The race was delayed for about 15 minutes after Alex Lake’s Town Hall, also on debut at the Ellis Thomas Downs, had burst through the gate early. The horse, however, checked out ok by his trainers and the LIME-sponsored 7 furlong race got underway with Swag Daddy hitting his straps early to take a slender lead.
However, down the back straight and around the final curve, Leave It to Bern showed his pedigree to fire past his St Thomas based rival to secure a comfortable third victory in his last three outings.
“I’m really pleased,” said owner Rodney Simmonds. “He’s definitely performing well and I don’t even know what to expect next. In the States he used to run from behind, but our plan was to get out ahead early. However, that didn’t work out so plan B was to sit back and wait. We knew he had more stamina than the other horses and it worked out.”
Swagg Daddy finished 2nd ahead of Town Hall with Game Keeper 4th.
The opening race, over 6 furlongs, saw David Campbell ride Man From The Hill to an easy victory over Priority Express, with The Ghost failing a late fitness test and being scratched.
“It was very simple from start to finish, my horse was more ready and more forward from start to finish,” commented Campbell.
The winning time was 1:23 and 1.
Good Boy Daddy won race 2 over 6 ½ furlongs in a time of 130 and 1, despite slowing down on the approach to the line and giving Power Ten a sniff of the winner’s cheque. Benny South Street, the other horse from St Thomas taking part, came home 3rd.
“I was very confidant,” said jockey Michael Simple. “I was behind a bit, but I forced him back in front and knew the horse had speed.”
Race 3, over 1 mile for Class C and D horses, was won by All Country ridden by Alberto Soto. The winning time was 1 49 flat. Soto nearly fell off having been squeezed on the inside about 2/3rds of the way round, but held on for the win. “I felt very good today, the horse answered well after we were squeezed.”
Orithyia gave her owners a scare before the start of race 4 when she railed up and fell through the railings during the warm up. “Luckily there was no damage and no scratches,” commented part owner “Bolo”.
Having gathered herself and with jockey Simple on board, Orithyia romped home in a time of 1:19 and 1 over the 7 furlong distance. “She’s a very fit, fast horse and I knew she could do it,” added “Bolo”.
Miss Homer came 2nd and True Essence 3rd.
Really Uptown also made a cameo appearance before the feature race and looked fit, healthy and well on the road to racing again.
Yes, the crowd was small, but had built appreciably in time for the feature race and with the Likes of Leave it to Bern, Orithyia, Good Boy Daddy and the yet to be seen, The Ghost, Horse racing in the Virgin Islands has much to look forward to again.
See previous article posted December 17, 2013
Leave it to Bern dusts competition at Ellis Thomas Downs
Leave it to Bern dusted the competition in the feature race at Ellis Thomas Downs today, November 17, 2013.
The local horse won in 1: 30 minutes with Swagg Daddy held to second place.
Town Hall was 3rd and Game Keeper 4th.
The race was delayed after Town Hall burst the gate early.
Details to follow.
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17 Responses to “UPDATE: Leave it to Bern ignites crowd at Ellis Thomas Downs”
your vocabulary to use besides NDP for every comment.
Good one VINO