A medium size crowd showed up at the Randall Doc James Race track Sunday and was treated to exciting, highly contested races.
The one race that may not have been as close as many expected was the feature race of the day in which Green Sand exploded out of the gate and did not look back. He was a gate-to-wire winner, but had to fight off challenges from Soul Spirit and Black Jack Bob at the top of the stretch before drawing away for what turned out to be an impressive victory.
Green Sand, with jockey Angel Viera in the irons, negotiated the one-mile distance in a time of 1:37.4. Soul Spirit, with Kevin Krigger aboard, was second and Black Jack Bob, with jockey Christian Soto, was a close third.
Green Sand’s featured race victory may have been impressive, but just as impressive was the day that trainer, Randall “Chook” Knight had at the track. Knight and his barn were saddled three horses Sunday, and all three came home winners.
The hat trick started in the six-furlong fourth race, with three-year old filly, Leggy Blonde. With Angel Viera in the irons, Leggy Blonde had a rough start but recovered nicely, coming off the pace to win in a time of 1:14.2 over Wise Man’s Choice, with Miguel Sanchez in the irons, and Cherokee Neesh, with jockey Alberto Ojeda.
Knight’s second win of the day came in the seven-and-a-half furlong seventh race, in which Cherokee Law, carrying a top weight of 119 pounds, won impressively in his Virgin Islands debut in a time of 1:32.4. Cherokee Law and jockey Ojeda caught front runners Puerto Rican Emblem and Formally Cat at the three-eights marker, then battled them in the stretch before pulling away just enough to get the victory at the wire. Puerto Rican Emblem, with Viera aboard, held on for second while Formally Cat, with jockey Soto, was a game third.
The Chook Knight’s triple was completed in the one-mile eight race, in which Mi Jesus and jockey Elmo Barnes got a big early lead on the field and then had just enough left at the wire to win by a head over Guiltless, with Krigger in the irons, and Collegeville Kid, with Edgar walker aboard. Mi Jesus negotiated the one mile distance in a time of 1:40.
The rest of the day’s results are as follows:
Race1 2 F Class H, Jockey
Time: 22.3
1. Emerald Princess, Miguel Sanchez
2. High Times, Christian Soto
3. Fifty Cents, Winston Hurst
Race2 5 F Class N-6, Jockey
Time: 1:02
1. Belzona Red, Steven Powell
2. Dinero, Elmo Barnes
3. Creation Rebel, Christian Soto
Race3 5 F Class I-5, Jockey
Time: 1:01
1. Heats on Fire, Christian Soto
2. Cat Hunter, Alberto Ojeda
3. Russian Way, Alphonso Claudio
Race5 7 F Class N-3, Jockey
Time: 1:30
1. Prince Crystal, Jesus Guadelupe
2. Dana Express, Kevin Krigger
3. Irie Ites, Angel Viera
Race6 7F (M&F), Jockey
Time: 1:27.2
1. Big Kate, Christian Soto
2. Bright Moonlight, Angel Viera
3. Destiny Arrival, Kevin Krigger
