74.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesGreen Sand Takes Sloppy Feature Race Sunday

Green Sand Takes Sloppy Feature Race Sunday

Sloppy conditions could not stop the show at the Randall “Doc” James race track Sunday.A small crowd of diehard horse racing fans braved wind and rain on Sunday to come to the Randall “Doc” James Racetrack for what turned out to be a highly competitive six-race card. It was easily the nastiest day of racing in years, but hardly any of the horses on Sunday’s card scratched from their respective races.
Although the heavy rains did not put a damper on the races, the loss of Cat Hunter, in the six-furlong third race was tragic. The thoroughbred apparently suffered a heart attack during the run down the home stretch and went down never to move again. Jockey Junior Inirio was thrown from his saddle as the horse went down but suffered no apparent injuries and was able to ride out the rest of the card.
The featured sixth race of the day, ran at a distance of seven and a half furlongs for a purse of $4,000, went off in the heaviest downpour of the afternoon. But that did not deter Green Sand and jockey Angel Viera as they were able to take the field of five gate to wire for the victory.
With visibility at a minimum, most fans had to rely on the call of the announcer, hoping he had a better view, to know the position of the horses as they negotiated their way around the track through the driving rain.
At the break, as expected, the speedy Green Sand was fastest out of the gates and rushed to the early lead. He was quickly joined on the lead by Puerto Rican Emblem, and those two would duel around the sloppy track for most of the race.
Green Sand, however, edged away as they approached the far turn, and Temo’s Dream and Jockey Inirio began their run, moving into position for a run at the wire as the field approach the top of the stretch. Temo’s Dream ran by Puerto Rican Emblem and set his sights on the leader, gaining with every stride. Just when it looked as if he would catch and go by the leader, Green Sand appeared to find another gear and under a strong right hand whip by Viera, he was able to just hold off Temo’s Dream to win by half a length at the wire. Puerto Rican Emblem was able to hold on for a distant third. The other two thoroughbreds in the race, Walk the Cat Walk and Little Boy Brew were never in contention, finishing far back in fourth and fifth respectively.
The rest of the day’s results:
Race 1 7.5F I-4 & I-5(M/F) & I-6 C/G Jockey
Time: 1:35.4
1. Devil’s Revenge, Sunday Diaz
2. Grey Forbes, Miguel Sanchez
3. Cherokee Neesh, Myris Rivera

Race 2 6F “VI Bred” Open Race, Jockey
“The Wind Flow Invitational”
Time: 1:15.4
1. Irie Ites, Christian Soto, Jr.
2. Creation Rebel, Kevin Krigger
3. Kings of Kings, Junior Inirio

Race 3 6F Class I5 (C/G), Jockey
Time: 1:14.1
1. Black Machine, Myris Rivera
2. Protype, Miguel Sanchez
3. Neerly Nasty, Kevin Krigger

Race 4 7F I-4 & I-5, Jockey
Time: 1:28.2
1. Ala Cat, Mickey Nieves
2. Lobito, Junior Inirio
3. Mi Jesus, Angel Viera

Race 5 7F Class I-1, 2 & 3 M/F, Jockey
Time: 1:28.1
1. Finish in Style, Miguel Sanchez
2. Dance Mistress, Angel Viera
3. Leggy Blonde, Junior Inirio

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.