TORONTO – Barbadian jockey Patrick Husbands climaxed another successful season at Woodbine on Sunday when he captured the $150 000 Valedictory Stakes, to record his 17th added-money triumph of the 2010 season.
The 36-year-old Husbands, who failed in his bid for a fourth straight jockeys’ title, guided hot favourite Pool Play to victory by three-quarter lengths in the day’s feature over one-and-three-quarter miles, which was bumped up to $177 400 with bonus money.
In the longest stakes race of the Woodbine season, Husbands sat the Mark Casse-trained bay horse just off the lead before making his move on the turn with just over a furlong to run and reaching the wire in a time of three minutes, 01.42 seconds.
“[In] his prep, when (Luis) Contreras rode him, I told Mark to take the blinkers off and he’d be a better horse,” said Husbands, in reference to the five-year-old’s win in the November 6 preparation race for the Valedictory.
“We had a really nice trip today and when I called on him in the stretch, he gave his all for me. I really respect Mark for giving me the call back on him. I want to thank Mark and all his owners for riding me this year.”
The victory was the second straight win for Pool Play and his fifth lifetime triumph, carrying him to $547 391 in earnings from 24 starts.
He gave Husbands his only win on the day’s 13-race programme, as the seven-time Sovereign Award winner closed out the season with 172 wins to finish second behind champion jockey
Eurico Rosa Da Silva who had 190 wins. (CMC)
