Burrow Down and jockey Damario Bynoe win the $50,000 Manitoba Matron on Tuesday at ASD for trainer Mike Taphorn and owner Gerald Babchishin. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
by G.S. Thompson
Jockey Damario Bynoe put on a riding clinic at the Downs this week with three straight hat tricks, five-time leading trainer Jerry Gourneau won five races, and the best horses on the grounds delivered in spades in the two biggest championship races of the meeting.
Bynoe entered the week tied with three-time leading rider Antonio Whitehall with 40 wins each and amazingly managed to open an eight-win lead on his rival. The score is now 49-41 in favour of Bynoe, and that will be very tough for Whitehall to overcome.
Groom Katie Morris leads Burrow Down and Damario Bynoe into the winner's circle after their victory in the Manitoba Matron. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
And Bynoe not only won nine races, he also won the $50,000 Manitoba Matron on Tuesday with Burrow Down ($5.90) for trainer Mike Taphorn and owner Gerald Babchishin. The Matron marked the first time Burrow Down was ridden by Bynoe, and he gave his mount a dream trip. Burrow Down looked like her old self in the stretch, coming with a long determined rally to catch lone speed favourite Welcometohollywood late and drawing out to win by three-quarters of a length.
Burrow Down has now run 16 times at Assiniboia Downs and compiled an incredible record of 11-1-2 to bolster her overall record of 12-6-6 in 35 starts for earnings of US$316,155. The 6-year-old daughter of Connect-True Endeavor by After Market continues to enhance her status as one of the best mares to ever race at the Downs.
Mr Jaws (outside) and jockey Damario Bynoe get up just in time to win the $50,000 Gold Cup on Tuesday over a game Riverside, for trainer Jerry Gourneau and owner Henry S. Witt Jr. (Jason Haldstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Trainer Jerry Gourneau was also on a roll this week, winning five races including the $50,000 Gold Cup on Tuesday with longshot Mr Jaws ($21.30) for seven-time leading ASD owner Henry S. Witt, Jr. Jockey Dario Dalrymple put Mr Jaws on the lead early in the 1 1/8-mile race, but he was under steadily increasing pressure throughout, turning back multiple bids from outside rivals including favourite Judo, before being passed into the stretch on the inside by Riverside. The latter turned back multiple bids from Mr Jaws before finally succumbing to that one late, finishing second beaten a head, and 2 1/2 -lengths in front of Mr Jaws’ stablemate Malibu SS.
Trainer Jerry Gourneau walks into the winner’s circle with a smile of pure satisfaction and his Gold Cup trophy. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
The Gold Cup was easily one of the best races of the year at ASD, and helped Mr Jaws improve his record to 5-2-2 from 13 starts this year. The 3-year-old gelding by Bradester-Spanish Angel by Early Flyer was claimed by owner Witt for just $7,500 on May 18 at Lonestar Park in Texas, and has easily paid for himself with a third-place finish in the Manitoba Derby and his Gold Cup win. Nicely done!
Gourneau’s five wins put him third in the standings, still nine behind leader Steve Keplin, Jr, who has 35 wins, but only one win behind Mike Nault, who scored a hat trick on the week, as did trainer Wendy Anderson. Also of note on the week was jockey Sheldon Chickeness, who won three races to up his record to 3-2-2 from 12 starts since coming out of semi-retirement on September 9.
And looked good doing it.
Girls Night Out continues to be a hit with the ladies on Wednesday evenings at Assiniboia Downs. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)