All of the horse racing barns in the Virgin Islands had better take notice because the Wayne Scott-trained Expect Smoke proved on Sunday that he belongs among the best of the best after easily winning the Memorial Day Classic against some very tough competition.
Under jockey Edwin Gonzalez, Expect Smoke negotiated the one-mile distance in a not-too-shabby time of 1:37.4.
At the break, Puerto Rican Emblem was quickest out of the gates and raced to the early lead as the field passed the grandstand for the first time. Emblem was followed closely by Eire’s Run and Expect Smoke.
Puerto Rican Emblem took the field around the clubhouse turn and into the backstretch, maintaining a comfortable one-length lead over Eire’s Run in second followed by Expect Smoke, Cherokee Run, Finish in Style and Walk the Catwalk who trailed the field.
Just after the four-furlongs pole Expect Smoke began his run. He quickly gobbled up Eire’s Run and set his sights on the front-running Puerto Rican Emblem. He collared that one at the three-eighths marker, and from that point on it was obvious to everyone at the track that the race was now for second place.
Expect Smoke hit the top of the stretch full of run and no one was going to catch the fast-improving dark brown colt as he drew clear and set sail for the wire.
Meanwhile, a battle for second was taking place behind the winner as Cherokee Law briefly got by Eire’s Run and a tiring Puerto Rican Emblem in the run down the stretch.
However Eire’s fought back on the inside to nip Cherokee Law at the wire for second. Puerto Rican Emblem held on for fourth and was followed by Finish in Style and Walk the Catwalk, who turned his worst performance of the meet.
The rest of the day’s results:
Race 1 7 F Classes N-6, Jockey
Time: 1:29.4
1. King of Kings, Elmo Barnes
2. Super Pop, Winston Hurst
3. Gold Finger, Jesus Guadelupe
Race 2 6F Classes I-5 (M/F) & I-6, Jockey
Time: 1:12.1
1. According to Jesus, Alphonso Claudio
2. Excessively Classy, Jesus Guadelupe
3. Separate Bill, E. Gonzalez
Race 3 7 ½ F Class I-5, Jockey
Time: 1:32.1
1. Leggy Blonde, Juan Santiago
2. Sarasota May Bell, Winston Hurst
3. Wonderifiamspecial, E. Gonzalez
Race 4 1 M Classes I-5, Jockey
Time: 1:39
1. Wekiva Trail, Angel Viera
2. Itsmidas, Juan Santiago
3. Tulsa Boy, Elmo Barnes
Race 5 7 ½ F Class I-4, Jockey
Time: 1:33.2
1. Skipski, Winston Hurst
2. Salty Glider, Sunday Diaz
3. San Viron, Jesus Guadelupe
Race 6 7 ½ F Class I-3, Jockey
Time: 1:31.3
1. Temo’s Dream, Juan Santiago
2. Akebono, Christian Soto
3. Bruno’s Burst, Edwin Gonzalez
Race 8 1 M Open V.I. Bred, Jockey
Time: 1:41.3
1. Dinero, Sunday Diaz
2. Creation Rebel, Juan Santiago
3. Emerald Star, Sunday Diaz
