Dane Nelson rode off with two added-money victories as part of a four-timer as he dominated Saturday’s ten-race card at Century Downs.
Fresh from his title conquest at Century Mile in Edmonton earlier this month, the 39-year-old made the headlines at the western Canada oval by winning the CAN$50 000 Alberta Fall Classic Distaff in race three with favourite Dance Shoes and the $50 000 Alberta Premier’s Futurity in race four with another favourite Itsallgoodman.
In addition, Nelson captured race two over six furlongs with favourite Missczech before also taking race seven over a mile and sixteenth with 19-1 outsider Rocktillyoudrop.
Barbadian Damario Bynoe also tasted success, combining with favourite Jeff Fa Fa to win the $50 000 Red Diamond Express in race eight.
Going 6-½ furlongs, Bynoe made all the running with the four-year-old chestnut gelding to beat the three-year-olds and upward by 3-¾ lengths in a time of one minute, 15,26 – a new track record.
However, it was Nelson who took the plaudits in an exceptional outing. He opened his account on the card when he piloted the four-year-old Missczech to a 5-¼ length score, beating the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares with a gate-to-wire performance.
Nelson then notched his first stakes success, pairing with five-year-old chestnut mare Dance Shoes to collar the three-year-olds and upward.
Graceful Spirit, the 29-1 longshot, led through the half-mile under Barbadian Da-Sean Gaskin before Nelson challenged on the backstretch, grabbed the lead on the far turn and pulled away to win by three lengths in a time of 1:44.36.
Nelson quickly followed up in the Alberta Premier Futurity, steering the gelding Itsallgoodman to a crushing 8-¼ length victory over the two-year-old Alberta breds in a time of 1:17.07.
Thirty-to-one longshot JJ’s Caper led early before Itsallgoodman took over the running leaving the backstretch to dominate the stretch run.
Paired with Rocktillyoudrop, Nelson completed his haul, this time carrying the five-year-old bay gelding to a narrow win over the three-year-olds and upward, holding off favourite Decoy by a neck at the wire.
