KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jockey Shane Ellis had to tap into his vast experience on Shauna Cruise in order to win the first of 10-races on Jamaica Oaks Day (August 29) at Caymanas Park a short while ago.
Racing at odds of 5-1, Shauna Cruise trained by Edward Stanberry was slowly out of her starting stall in the field of 11 going 9 furlongs and 25 yards in what was an Optional Claimer ($250,000 - $200,000).
Ellis then glued Shauna Cruise to the inside rails for almost the entire race as Top Eagle (Matthew Bennett) and Cruise Lava Cruise (Calvin Bailey) set the early fractions with 1-2 favourite Chief Prospect (Anthony Thomas) hovering behind.
It was in that order that the horses rounded the half-mile with Shauna Cruise gaining ground steadily.
Leaving the three-furlong point Ellis made his move and entered the straight in striking distance of the leader Top Eagle.
The battle was on but Ellis cheekily got home by a head. Top Eagle was a fighting second with Bigman Union third.
Shauna Cruise provided Stanberry with his third for the year and it was Ellis’ 14th.
| RACE 1 OPT CLM $250K-$200K (5YO&UP)(NB6YO&UP/NW2)(NB5YO&UP/MDN) 9&25Y 12:05PM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pos. | No. | Horse | Jockey | Odds | Win | Place | q | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Shauna Cruise | Shane Ellis | 5-1 | $345 | $126.00 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | Top Eagle | Matthew Bennett | 59-1 | $885.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 10 | Bigman Union | Dick Cardenas | 9-1 | $177.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 6 | Chief Prospect | Anthony Thomas | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 11 | Kunama | Samantha Fletcher | 49-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| TRAINER: Edward Stanberry | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Splits: 28.1 x 54.0 x 1:19.2 x 1:46.3 - Time: 2:02.2 - Margins: head by 2 1/2 - 11 RAN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ex:$27,145 | T/Fecta:$31,424 | Hi-5:c/o$104,368.55 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Q:$15,746 | S/Fecta:$127,376 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
