Three-time Jamaican champion jockey Dane Nelson was the toast at the Century Downs racetrack in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, winning three races on the multi-stakes 10-race programme last Sunday (September 15).
The ever bustling Nelson, after landing two races the day before, got his first winner aboard the Grey Tracy-trained 2-1 betting option Pearl of Knowledge, who won the CAN$50,000 Sturgeon River Stakes presented by True North Holdings Inc.
Going over 6 1/2 furlongs, Pearl of Knowledge challenged for the lead early with Music At Work (Prayevn Badrie) before taking full control as the field came down the backstretch for the first time. Pearl of Knowledge maintained the advantage at the top of the lane and then drew clear to win by 5 ¾ lengths ahead of the 8-5 favourite Music At Work in a time of 1:18.77.
Nelson’s second winner came in the CAN$50,000 Beaufort Stakes presented by Clark Builders over 8 1/2 furlongs aboard 3-5 favourite Zicatela, trained by Dale Saunders.
Zicatela sat off the pace, racing three wide leaving the opening turn. She pressed the issue into the backstretch and then was engaged in a duel with Burnin’ Pocket (Keihton Natera) approaching the final bend before pulling away in deep stretch to win by 5 lengths ahead of 2-1 Burnin’ Pocket.
The cap for Nelson came in the 10th and final event aboard Hollywood Square in a claiming race over six furlongs. Trained by Saunders, Hollywood Square out battled Mr Irrelevant (Prayven Badrie) by ¾ length, clocking 1:12.30.
With those winners under his belt, Nelson moved to second place in the jockeys’ championship on five winners — one behind leader Keihton Natera on six. Rico Walcott is third on four winners, the same as Anastasios Chalaris in fourth place.
The race meeting which started on August 31, 2019 ends on October 27, 2019.
