Mechanic Susie, one of four winners for jockey Antonio Whitehall this week. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
By G.S. Thompson
Antonio Whitehall was the hot jockey for the second week in a row, trainer Jason Homer scored a hat trick and helped apprentice Ciera Pruitt score her fourth and fifth wins, and Ziprick Thoroughbreds finished 1-2-3 in the Hazel Wright Sire Stakes with daughters of their stallions.
Nikkitysplit won the 18th Running of the $40,000 Hazel Wright Sire Stakes for Manitoba-sired 3-year-old fillies on Tuesday evening, and it wasn’t close. Trained by Tom Gardipy, Jr. the daughter of Speculating opened up early under jockey Rachaad Knights and maintained her lead to the wire to win by 3 ½-lengths over Two Left To Load, also a daughter of Speculating. It was a further 6 ½-lengths back to third-place finisher Amplify, who is by Kentucky Bear, another stallion connected to Ziprick Thoroughbreds.
Nikkitysplit wins the $40,000 Hazel Wright Sire Stakes on Tuesday evening at ASD. Rachaad Knights in the saddle for trainer Tom Gardipy, Jr. and owner-breeders Jerry Lambert and Lynn Mathews. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Nikkitysplit has won two of three starts for owner-breeders Jerry Lambert and Lynn Mathews and looks like she has a bright future ahead of her. The same might be said for apprentice Ciera Pruitt, who scored the fifth win of her career aboard Luka Grazie for trainer Jason Homer in the sixth race on Wednesday. Pruitt is now a five-pound apprentice instead of a ten-pound bug, and she continues to improve her skills with every mount.
Nikkitysplit and Rachaad Knights are led into the winner’s circle after their victory in the Hazel Wright Sire Stakes. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Three-time leading ASD rider Antonio Whitehall won four races on the week to move into a tie at the top of the standings with Prayven Badrie. Both former leading ASD riders have 21 wins, followed by Sven Balroop and Damario Bynoe with 18 wins apiece. Rachaad Knights rounds out the top five with 13 victories.
Leading trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. won a race on Tuesday to remain at the top of the standings with 18 wins, seven ahead of Mike Nault (11) followed by Tom Gardipy, Jr. (10), Wendy Anderson (9) and Lise Pruitt (8) and trainer Jason Homer scored a hat trick to climb into a tie with Lise Pruitt with eight wins.
Apprentice Ciera Pruitt was all smiles after scoring her fifth lifetime win aboard Luka Grazie for trainer Jason Homer in the sixth race on Wednesday. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Fans pounded the windows on Tuesday, wagering over $2 million, including $217,699 into a Pick 4 pool that resulted in a $1 payoff of $635.40. On Wednesday, punters wagered over $1.4 million, including $114,785 into the Pick 4 pool, and the $1 Pick 4 paid $3,046.45.
Proud parents. Trainer Lise Pruitt and former top ASD jockey Jerry Pruitt celebrate their daughter Ciera’s fifth career win on Wednesday. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Wednesday’s lucrative Pick 4 payoff entered potential boxcar territory when No Barb Wire ($41.30) and jockey Shavon Belle came rolling home late in the fifth race to give trainer Marion Johnston her first win of the season. No Barb Wire was followed by Luka Grazie ($10.00), East Coast Cowgirl ($7.40), and Sneaky Situation ($11.50) in races six, seven, and eight, to trigger the big Pick 4 payout.
Big things can happen when the favourites don’t win.