Fort Erie – Barbadian rider Chris Husbands took honours on Monday at the Fort Erie racetrack, winning the feature CAN $30 000 Horsepeople’s Luminary Cup with 3-1 choice Hold the Applause as part of a double on the eight race card.
Up against the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares in the penultimate race at the southern Ontario oval, Husbands produced a stalking ride with the five-year-old bare mare to reach the wire 2-1/4 lengths clear in a time of one minute, 18.37 seconds.
Another 3-1 choice Dreaminofpassion, with veteran Barbadian Juan Crawford aboard, finished second.
Going 1 300 metres, 6-1 chance Jara carved out the early fractions, duelling early with Hold the Applause to reach the quarter in 22.95 before getting clear to complete the half in 45.68.
Hold the Applause stalked while Dreaminofpassion settled in third within striking distance.
When Jara faltered at the top of the stretch, both Hold the Applause and Dreaminofpassion kicked on, but it was Husbands who got the best out of his mare.
Husbands had earlier tasted success in race two over six furlongs when he guided favourite Patio Party to a handsome 2-1/2 length win over the three-year-olds and upward.
The 2-1 bet Crumlin Experience set the pace through the half-mile before Husbands brought his three-year-old gelding from off the pace to catch the leaders in the stretch.
Husbands, the reigning champion jockey, is currently second in the standings at Fort Erie on 21 wins, four adrift of leader Melanie Pinto.
(CMC)
