WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Trinidadian Prayven Badrie shone with a double but Barbadian Antonio Whitehall won again to stretch his lead in the jockeys standings at Assiniboia Downs.
Trinidadian Prayven Badrie.The 32-year-old Badrie produced winners in the CAN$10 300 race three with 2-1 choice Kim’s Texas Bling and then in the $13 300 race seven with 8-1 chance Little Toe here Monday, to move his tally for the season to five.
Whitehall, 29, a two time Assiniboia Downs champion, snatched the day’s opener, a $16 500 optional claiming with favorite Trump Um.
Despite four other top three finishes, however, Whitehall failed to find the winners’ circle again, remaining on 15 wins for the new season.
He is nine clear of his closest challenger, Trinidadian Ronald Ali, who tasted success in race two over 5-½ furlongs with 2-1 bet Private Frank.
Several Caribbean jockeys are alongside Badrie on five wins – Jamaicans Chavion Chow and Neville Stephenson, along with Barbadian Damario Bynoe.
Badrie took center stage, however, first combining with four-year-old filly Kim’s Texas Bling to trounce the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by 1-¼ lengths in a 5-½ furlong sprint.
Seven-to-one bet Canterbury Gold led briefly before Badrie brought Kim’s Texas Bling to challenge on the late turn to take the lead passing the eighth pole.
He returned to the winners’ enclosure in another 5-½ furlong sprint, steering eight-year-old gelding Little Toe to a handsome 1-¾ length score.
Up against the three-year-olds and upward, Little Toe dueled with 13-1 choice Club Champ, favorite Lucky Break and 8-1 bet Diddley, before getting clear to dominate the stretch.
