EDMONTON – Barbadian Rico Walcott continued his march towards a seventh straight jockey’s title at Northlands Park when he rode a double on Wednesday’s nine-race mid-week card.
The 27-year-old rode winners in race six with favourite Hopewick and in race nine with 2-1 chance Laura B, to move to 54 winners for the season which started May 5 and wraps September 16.
Walcott is 30 clear of Trinidadian Keishan Balgobin who lies second on 24 wins while Jamaican Dane Nelson sits third on 19.
Walcott opened his account over a mile when he partnered with the seven-year-old mare Hopewick to trounce the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by 4-3/4 lengths.
He then teamed up with three-year-old bay filly Laura B to rout the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by 11-1/2 lengths in a front-running effort over 6-1/2 furlongs.
Laura B was pushed early on by Tegan’sbestwilko but disposed of her rival heading into the turn and widened the lead into the stretch.
Barbadian Damario Bynoe also tasted success when he guided 6-1 chance He’s No Saint to a half-length win over the three-year-old and upwards in race four over 6-1/2 furlongs.
And Balgobin was also in winner’s row when he combined with 2-1 choice Wild Deuces to get the better of the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by half-length, in a six-furlong contest in race eight. (CMC)
