Former four-time champion jockey Dane Nelson booted home two winners on the eight-race programme to open the new racing season at Century Mile, Canada, on Saturday, April 30.
Nelson, who secured four rides on the card, first won aboard Deuces Are Wild in the fourth race – an Allowance Optional Claiming event over five and a half furlongs on the dirt.
Trained by Carson Frey, Deuces Are Wild took command early in the race, remained unchallenged into the lane and was kept to the task, winning by a length and a half in a time of 1:02.54. Smarty River Pants (Enrigue Gonzales) was second with Dune d’Oro (Rico Walcott) third.
Nelson’s second came in the seventh race aboard the Joan Petrowski-trained Amber Ridge, who easily won the maiden claiming race over five furlongs on the dirt. Amber Ridge was hustled up to the front, remained clear into the stretch and won by 2 ¼ lengths in a time of 59.15. Gotcha Jenny (Mauricio Malvaez) was second and Rosa Richter (N’Rico Rescod) third.
