UPDATE: St Moose was untouchable - James Bates
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.
Virgin Islands News Online will bring you more results shortly.
23 Responses to “UPDATE: St Moose was untouchable - James Bates”
St. Moose won by more than 20 lengths. Seriously.