KINGSTON, Jamaica – On December 16, 2023, Patrick Smellie, President of the United Trainers' Association of Jamaica, celebrated his first win of the year with his six-year-old horse, Buzz Assault, at Caymanas Park.
"It's always rewarding to have a winner, particularly with a horse like Buzz Assault, whom I've spent considerable time with this year. I'm happy, but more work must be done," Smellie shared.
Buzz Assault found her winning stride in an Optional Claimer ($250,000-$200,000) race over four furlongs, with jockey Oshadane Robinson on board.
Buzz Assault began the race prominently and kept pace with the leaders Stanislaus (ridden by Tevin Foster), Supreme Star (ridden by Abigail Able), and Smoke Haze (ridden by Robert Halledeen).
As they crossed the dummy rails, Buzz Assault hit her top gear and challenged for the lead before pulling away near the finish line. She won by a length ahead of Cold Pursuit (ridden by Phillip Parchment), with Stanislaus finishing third. The final time was 49.0 (23.0).
Regarding his decision to choose Robinson as Buzz Assault's jockey, Smellie stated, "In my opinion, Robinson is a talented rider. With time, hard work, and dedication, he has the potential to become an even better jockey."
