Tortola's Really Up delivered a run away victory at the Boxing Day card to set off wild celebrations at the Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay shortly after 5:15 p.m this afternoon, December 26.
Really Up Town with supporters and fans following an impressive victory at the Ellis Thomas Downs on Boxing Day, 2012.
Photo Credit: Really Up Town
Really Up Town with supporters and fans following an impressive victory at the Ellis Thomas Downs on Boxing Day, 2012.
Photo Credit: Really Up Town
St. Croix's Slevin came looking to avenge his loss to Really Up Town last month in St. Thomas, but its owners will leave the BVI with much to consider for the new year.
"I don't think Slevin wants another piece of him," said L&B Stables' Letty Hodge, who owns Really Up Town.
"Before the race I told them that Really Up town was going to win. There was no doubt," Hodge added following the quick-pace race that left Top Priority Stables' Good Prospecting in the dust.
"The trainers told me it was okay for Really Up Town to run the extra distance and he produced," Hodge told BVI Platinum News.
St. Thomas horses, Twisted Dreams and News Carrier were both scratched from the feature race.
The race was for 1 mile and a purse of $10,000 sponsored by Minister for Education and Culture, Hon. Myron Walwyn.
Tortola's Queteparace Cholito copped the opening race of the BVI Horse Owners Association's Boxing Day card shortly after 2:15 p.m. at the Ellis Thomas Downs this afternoon, December 26.
Reduced to a match race after St. Thomas' Walk the Tiger was scratched, Cholito dominated local bred horse, Man From The Hill in a time of 1:22.4.
The opening race was 6 Furlongs and featured Cass D & E Horses for a purse of $3,000. The race was sponsored by Colonial Insurance Ltd.
In the second race, Torento on debut chewed up the field in 7 Furlongs that featured Class C and D Horses. He finished the race in a time of 1:32.4 ahead of Good Boy Daddy, Ease My Mind and Formal King of St. Thomas.
The second race sponsored by the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports was for a purse of $3,500.
In the third race for a purse of $4,500, featuring fillies and mares for a distance of 7 Furlongs.
St. Thomas' Good Evening Officer crossed the finish line first in a time of 1:29.3 to record its 7th victory in 8 races.
Trained and owned by Rasharn Creque, Good Evening Officer, finished ahead of Blake's Penny on debut, Glorious Memory and Orithyia.
"She is a really good horse and keeps running well. Today was not much of a challenge, but we wait to see who will race us next year. we are ready for any re-match or anyone who want to us. We will not move her up in class to race the boys," Creque told BVI Platinum News following the race.
In the fourth race, 1 mile for a purse of $4,500 sponsored by Lime, St. Thomas' Khun Dan made a late surge to beat Gaffalione in a match race to the finish.
Mr. Gold Prospect of St. Thomas was scratched from the race.
"We told the jockey to go out hard from the start, but he held back," said Gaffalione's trainer, Michael Smith of Alliance Point Stables.
'He still had a good kick at the end to win. That is how we sometimes run. I will be back for the first leg of the triple crown here next month. I don't know which race they will put us in, but we are ready," Smith added.
The next race day will be the first leg of the Triple Crown on January 13, 2012.
