Barbados Today

TORONTO, Canada – Veteran jockey Patrick Husbands dominated Woodbine’s 10-race card on Sunday by reeling off four wins to close the gap on the early leaders in the newly minted campaign.

The Barbadian, who turns 44 later this month, won with favourite Ring For A Drink in race two, followed up with victory in race seven with 3-1 chance Trouble In Phoenix before also taking race nine with another favourite, Jennifer Lynette.

Husbands then brought the curtain down on a fine outing with victory in the day’s final race aboard 6-1 chance Spirit Of Caledon.

The six-time champion lies third on 16, one behind second placed Rafael Hernandez and six adrift of leader and defending champion Eurico Rosa da Silva.

Husband reached winners row for the first time when he piloted three-year-old filly Ring For A Drink to a 1-1/4 length win over the three-year-old and upward maiden fillies and mares, in a five-furlong sprint.

Madame Gizmo made the early running but gave way in the stretch as Husbands brought Ring For A Drink with a late run, to snatch honours.

His second success of the day came over six furlongs when he combined with four-year-old gelding Trouble In Phoenix, to edge the three-year-old and upwards.

Husbands raced the gelding mid-pack as Incorporater and Areocentric disputed the lead through the half in 45.56 seconds.

Starved for racing room at the top of the stretch, Husbands found an opening and made it count and prevailed by a neck over Party At Eight.

In race nine over six furlongs, Husbands produced a clinical ride aboard the four-year-old bay filly Jennifer Lynette to dominate the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by six lengths.

He stalked the pace-setter Wild N Clever through the half mile, attacked with a furlong to run and rocketed to the wire without a challenger.

Husbands sealed his fourth win of the programme in a mile and sixteenth trip when he paired with three-year-old bay gelding Spirit Of Caledon to turn back.