UPDATE: Tortola horse Laser Sharp ends in the $$ in feature clash of Carnival Races
Laser Sharp, trained by Kelvin Smith, held on to Pure Speight for much of the race and was always in a position to strike, but just could not find the legs on the home straight and faded to third, which also guaranteed a monetary prize.
The Tortola horse, owned by Lesmore Smith, was overtaken by Ice Road of Black Label Racing, but looked like a winning horse on another day.
Anegada horse Fighting Back of Francis Racing Stables was fourth, while fifth was Emmett of Truville Racing and sixth was Feel the Magic of Alliance Point Stables.
Highly Noted makes the winner’s circle
Lesmore Smith and Top Priority Racing Stables achieved a long-awaited victory when Highly Noted, with jockey Winston Hurst Jr, silenced the crowd in Race 3.
The Kenneth L. Herman Cup, sponsored by the Hermon Family, was run over a distance of 6 furlongs for a purse of $15,000.
Tortola horse Highly Noted went to the front early and never relinquished the lead, winning by some two lengths.
Winning start for Winston Hurst Jr & Kitten’s Deposit
The 2026 Carnival Races got off to a blistering start as, in the opening race, debut horse Kitten’s Deposit of St Croix ran a track record en route to winning the Bad Blood Classic sponsored by Stacey E. Plaskett.
Ridden by Winston Hurst Jr, Kitten’s Deposit of BLS Racing clocked 48 seconds flat to eclipse the 48.1 track record of 48.1 set by St Croix horse Solid Impact on January 22, 2006.
That race for maiden native horses was run over 4 furlongs for a purse of $7,500.00.
No competition for Flawless Shot
Race 2 belonged to Flawless Shot, owned by Jarvis Family Racing Stables of St Croix.
Flawless Shot dominated the field in the Fast N Deco Handicap, which was run over 7 and a half furlongs and was for mares and fillies classified as C& D.
The race purse was $10,000, and the winning jockey was Orlando Bocachica.
The winning time of 1:31.4 equalled the track record.
Coming in second was Skull Legend of Top Priority Racing Stables, while third was Mean Town on Wild Times SS Stables. Fourth was the debut horse Keen Beauty of St Croix, while fifth was Irish Prophecy of Way Point Racing Stables.
Storm Brave
Storm Brave of Just for Fun Racing Stables took the win in Race 4, the VI Lottery Carnival Classic, run over 1 mile and 40 yards for a purse of $15,000.
Thiago of 3A’s Racing Stables had to settle for second while third was King George Way of DBAS Stables. Fourth was Gege Conquest, fifth was Candy Medaglia of Phoenix Stables, and sixth was Chinomadito of Brothers Racing Stables.
Carroll’s Honour gives Winston Hurst Jr a 3rd win
Winston Hurst Jr took his third win of the day in Race 5, this time on Carroll's Honour.
The Bonnie Bonita Cup Classic, run over 1 mile, for mares and fillies, was sponsored by Hon Stacey E. Placket and fetched a purse of $18,000.
Carroll’s Honour dusted the field, which included Lacrosse (2nd) of ORB Racing Stables, Slender Slipper (3rd) of Truville Racing, It Takes Heart (4th) of Jazzma Racing Syndicate VI, and Stormy Mitole owned by Andrew Attwood.
Ghostinyou takes 2nd
Tortola horse and former Governor’s Cup Champion, Ghostinyou, took second in Race 6, which was won by Grand Tower of No Limit Stables in a new track record of 1:31.3.
Ghostinyou is known for being a fast finisher, but it appeared the horse was held back too much and had to make up way too much ground to beat Grand Tower. The horse; however, did well to take second after trailing for much of the race by more than 30 yards, including heading into the back straight.
Third in the race for the Clinton E. Phipps Cup, run over 7 and a half furlongs for a purse of $16,000, was Protector of Lima Racing Stables, while fourth was My Candy Biz of J&J Racing Stables.
Barrio San Jose
Race 7, which was the Enrique ‘Ricky’ Ashby Sprint, a 6 furlongs open for a purse of $20,000, was narrowly taken by Barrio San Jose for the third year in a row.
Valued Cajun of Truville Racing pushed Bario San Jose all the way to the finish line.
Third was Sound of the Beast of Black Label Racing, while fourth was Abadin of Top Priority Racing Stables.
Fifth and sixth, respectively, were Unsociable of Francis Racing Stables (Anegada) and Carico of Champion Racing Stables.
Neural Network
The 9th and final race of the day, the Albert ‘Boyzie’ Benjamin Cup, turned out to be a 2-horse race between debut horse Neural Network of Black Label Racing and Mundo Mix (St Croix) owned by Brandon Joseph.
Battling over 1 mile and 1/16 yards for a purse of $18,000, the two horses went neck and neck until Neural Network made its move coming off the backstraight and never looked back.
The 2026 Carnival Races drew a massive crowd that was well entertained with some exciting races, including the feature.
See previous article published May 1, 2026
Pure Speight is 2026 Governor’s Cup Champion
Moments ago, Friday, May 1, 2026, Pure Speight showed his class to win the Governor’s Cup, the feature clash of the Carnival Races at Clinton E. Phipps Sr Racetrack on St Thomas, US Virgin Islands.
Ridden by Kerwin John, Pure Speight claimed victory in the 1-mile, 70-yard race for a purse of $30, 000.
Second was Ice Road, while third was Tortola horse Laser Sharp of Top Priority Racing Stables.
Anegada horse Unsociable of Francis Racing Stables was fourth. Fifth was Emmeth, while sixth was the debut horse Feel the Magic.
More details to follow.
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